
Class, 

Book 

CofiyrightN?. 



Z^ 



-Ai 



C.OPyRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE 

Bible Companion 

FOR 

Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers 

AND 

ALL SEEKERS AFTER TRUTH 

BEING 

One Hundred and One Helpful Scripture Studies 

GIVING 

Clear Light on Many of the Most Important 

Doctrinal and Practical Subjects 

in the 

Word of God. 



BY 
REV. W. A. AYRES. 



..^'' 



^' ^^ 



COPYRIGHT 1912 

BY 

W. A. Ayres. 



Hobson-Smith Print 
Wichita 



0^ 

©CI.A330521 



THE BIBLE COMPA>aON 



PREFACE. 



The writer in his work as pastor and pastor evangelist 
iias found the scriptural facts contained in the following 
pages an exceedingly great help. The book has been, espe- 
■cially in his evangelistic work, a kind of pocket companion. 

In the many revival meetings he has held there has 
scarcely been one in which he has not had occasion to use 
one or more of the "studies," and always many of the Scrip- 
tures given at the close in answer to the excuses and reasons 
offered by old and young for not being Christians. He has 
repeatedly used them to great advantage in the preliminary 
or opening half-hour's service before the preaching, or as the 
Scripture lesson for that service. By this means these 
Scriptures have swept away all refuges, one by . qne, or 
lielped to get the stones of real difficulty out of the way of 
honest, earnest souls. The spiritual help these have rendered 
In meetings has been immense. 

For the instruction of the church and the training of the 
young people in the regular services, as well as in revival 
work, the studies have also been of great value,, focusing 
the light of the Scriptures on these important subjects. 
Not only will pastors, young pastors especially, evangelists 
and Sunday School teachers find help here, but it is hoped 
that everyone who loves to read and study the Word of God, 
old and young alike, without regard to official position, will 
lind a great many doctrinal and practical questions, even 
some very difficult ones, treated in a plain, simple, compre- 
Tiensible way that will prove a real pleasure and profit. So 
much of the Scriptures is used, nearly two thousand 
texts being quoted, that it seems like opening great, rich 
gold mines of truth for God's children to revel in and enrich 
themselves with. So may it prove. The work might be 
called "Theology made easy," but this is not' its chief aim. 

Many have regarded the "Studies" as a kind of Bible 
Wonder-book. Over and over in meetings and elsewhere the 
writer has been asked where a book like this could be ob- 



4 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

tained, and he has always been compelled to say, "Make one 
for yourself, as I did mine, with years of study and work." 
But realizing that few, if any, have been willing or able to 
pay such a price, the thought has come of publishing the 
book, so that everyone could have a copy for a small sum, 
get help from it, and be made more useful in the Master's 
service. That this double blessing may come upon the 
reader is the prayer of the writer. 

W. A. AYRES. 
Wichita, Kans., July 1, 1912. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



CONTENTS. Page 

Introduction, "Credo" 9 

1. Tlie Bible 17 

2. The Seven Sealed Savior 21 

3. The Triune God 26 

4. The Divinity of Christ 29 

5. The Holy Spirit 32 

6. Distinct Personality of the Holy Spirit 36 

7. Office and Work of the Holy Spirit 39 

8. Obedience Enjoined 41 

9. Reward of Obedience 45 

10. The Law 47 

11. New Testament Commands , 50 

12. New Testament Obedience 52 

13. Man in Sin 54 

14. Fruits of Sin 57 

15. Penalty of Sin 59 

16. Eternal Punishment 61 

17. God's Justice and Mercy.... 64 

18. The Unpardonable Sin 66 

19. The Way of Salvation 68 

20. Man's Free Agency , 71 

21. God's Sovereignty in Election 74 

22. Satan 77 

23. Our Substitute 79 

24. "The Blood" 83 

25. Universalism 86 

26. Repentance 88 

27. Confession 92 

28. Invitations 94 

29. Faith 96 

30. Change of Heart 102 

31. Regeneration 105 

32. Evidences of Regeneration 109 

33. Seven Steps to Peace 112 

34. Forgiving 115 

35. Love 118 

36. The Divine Lamentation and Entreaty 123 



6 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

37. The Heathen 127 

38. Missionary Study 131 

39. Justification 13& 

40. Children and Salvation.— 141 

41. Sanctification, or Bible Holiness 14& 

42. Perseverance of the Saints 150 

43. Consecration 157 

44. Growing in Grace 160 

45. Amusements 163 

46. Following Jesus 166 

47. The Church 171 

48. Baptism 18a 

49. The Lord's Supper 18& 

50. Kingdom of God 19a 

51. The Sabbath 195^ 

52. The Resurrection 199 

53. Christ's Second Coming 20a 

54. Hell 214 

55. Heaven 219 

56. God's Ownership 225 

57. My Stewardship 225 

58. Tithing 231 

59. Temperance 235 

60. What is a Christian? 241 

61. The Christian Armor 24a 

62. Loss and Gain 246 

63. Prayer 249 

64. Christian Work 253 

65. Twelve Steps in Back-Sliding 25S 

66. Sin 259 

67. Some Errors 261 

68. Reviving 265 

69. "Ebenezer" 267 

70. The Lord's Prayer 269 

71. Gethsemane 271 

72. Praying 274 

73. Asking for God 27^ 

74. Baptism of the Holy Spirit , 278 

75. Filled with the Spirit 281 

76. Led by the Spirit 283 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 7 

77. Gideon's 300 : 286 

78. A Faith Lesson 288 

79. Love Chapter— 1 Cor. 13 290 

80. Love Lesson 292 

81. Vine and Branches 295 

82. The Beatitudes .'. 297 

83. Feeding 5000— Mark 6:31-44..... 299 

84. Working 301 

85. Consecrated Service 303 

86. Soul-Winning 306 

87. "Another Vessel" 309 

88. "Will It Pay?" ...311 

89. Infirmities Healed 314 

90. Nehemiah 316 

91. First Battle— Ex. 17:8-16 319 

92. Jonathan— 1 Sam. 14:6-15 321 

93. Conditions of Success — Desire, Repentance, Choice.. ..323 

94. Conditions of Success — Prayer, Faith.. 325 

95. Conditions of Success 328 

96. Conditions of Defeat 331 

97. Conditions of Defeat 333 

98. The Battle the Lord's 336 

99. Captive Church Liberated 338 

100. Woes _ 342 

101. Marriage and Divorce 343 

Twenty-five Excuses for not Coming to Christ 348 

Twenty-five Reasons Why Sinners Do not Come to 

Christ 361 

Index - 372 




W. A. AYRES. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 9 

' INTRODUCTION. 
"CREDO," 

The meaning and force of which is, 'M believe," should 
be our abiding rule and principle in looking into God's 
Word; yet faith in God and his Word is not of necessity 
a blind and unreasoning or unreasonable process. Indeed, 
faith is most reasonable. The highest and best exercise of 
our reason will certainly lead to faith. Doubt, unbelief, in- 
fidelity are alone unreasonable, utterly destitute of any 
sound reason;!, as Lord Bacon said, "A little philosophy (or 
reason) inclineth men's minds to atheism; but depth of 
philosophy (or reason) bringeth them about to religion 
again." When any one, old or young, high or low, learned or 
unlearned, talks loudly of his infidelity, denies or makes 
light of God or his Word, or of the truth and reality of the 
Christian religion and experience, he only parades openly 
his ignorance and shows to everyone his lack of sound reason 
and good judgment, of true refinement and real morality. 
Such a person is to be pitied, and keeping the above facts in 
view, he need be feared by no one. But for any one who is an 
honest doubter, as well as for the strengthening of the faith 
of every one, the following 

SEVEN POINTS 

of reasoning may be very helpful to faith. Space will not 
allow of enlarging upon each point as would be very interest- 
ing, but even this brief statement makes a very complete 
chain. 

I. 

I believe that myself and all mankind, and, in fact, all 
nature, animate and inanimate, the earth and everything 
around it and upon its surface, really exist as I see them. 

I hold this to be self evident and to require no argument 
to prove. This is a first truth — an innate or intuitive idea 
of our being — one which no process of reasoning can dis- 
prove, inasmuch as all reasoning is based in some way or 
other upon the operation of our senses; and if we do not 
exist we certainly have no sense, and if we have no sense we 



10 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

surely cannot reason and it is useless to talk about doing so. 
It is more rational and reasonable to believe in our exist- 
ence than not, notwithstanding the sophistries of some of 
the philosophers. To sane minds, educated or ignorant, it is 
certain that we exist. 

II. 

I believe there is a Great First Cause, or Creator. 

I believe this simply from manifest intelligent design in 
all the works of nature, especially animate nature. I have 
never known anything that amounts to anything to happen 
by chance, yet the world is full of beauty and order and use; 
how came it so? To believe that it all happened so would 
take more credulity than it requires faith to believe in a 
Creator. My own work shows intelligence and design and 
proves me the designer and workman. We never think a 
house, a watch or a locomotive happened by chance. We 
know man made them for we see the evidence of his work- 
manship on them. If I should see a house on an island in 
the middle of the ocean and no human beings living there, I 
would not believe that the house just happened there; I 
would know that some man had been there and made it. 

When we see a work of man so nearly resembling a 
work of nature as to be unable to distinguish between them, 
for example a wreath of natural and another of artificial 
flowers, is it reasonable to believe that one is a work of art, 
the result of a skillful designer and a careful workman, and 
the other — happened by chance? We may profess to believe 
it, but is it rational and reasonable to really do so? 

All man's work shows design and intelligence and we 
naturally think of man as the designer. But what work of 
man is for an instant to be compared in beauty and won- 
derfulness of design with man himself, or any other object 
of animated animal or vegetable creation? Man, himself, 
makes nothing by accident or chance, and yet he will be- 
lieve that all the more, vastly more wonderful works of crea- 
tion all happened by accident! It seems absurd to ask 
whether it is reasonable for me to believe so or not. I must 
throw away my reason to believe that way. It is most rea- 
sonable to believe in a Creator, is it not? Without a Creator 
how dense and dark a fog of mystery all existence becomes! 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 11 

What philosopher has yet unraveled the mystery of even the 
lowest form of" animal or vegetable life? Believing in a 
Creator, how the light breaks in! Shall I refuse the light 
which my best reason leads me to, and grope on in the 
dark? I cannot accept an unfathomable mystery in the place 
of what my reason assures me is a certainty. I must believe 
In a Creator. 

III. 
I believe the Creator possesses tlie following prominent 
characteristics: 

1. Intelligence. Design, skill, beauty, perfection in all 
his works prove his intelligence without room for any argu- 
ment. Doubting his intelligence, we must doubt our own, but 
both are most reasonable and certain. 

2. Omnipotence. The Power that can create one world 
must certainly be able to create a million more if it wanted 
to do so; only omnipotence can create anything. 

3. Wisdom and Goodness. Wisdom is wonderfully dis- 
played in the mechanical execution and perfection of all the 
works of creation, and goodness in the felicitous arrange- 
ment of it all, there being no physical necessity without some- 
thing to meet or fill it and the ability to obtain it — light for 
the eye, food and drink, clothing and shelter for bodies, etc. 
The needs of all the creation so wonderfully provided for 
proves the goodness of the Creator. If he wpr^ pvii and has 
the power he does, would there not be manv wants unsup- 
plied? Hunger and thirst, with no way to satisfy them, like 
Tantalus, a king in Greek and Roman mythology, who for 
his misdeeds, was placed in a lake of water which always 
subsided whenever he attempted to drink, and under a tree 
laden with all manner of delicious fruits, which always 
eluded his grasp. The Creator does not tantalize his cre- 
atures so, therefore he must be good. 

IV. 

I believe that life, death and Immortal existence are facts. 

The first two of these facts are not doubted by men in 
their right minds. Our immortal existence seems clear from 
the following reasons: 

1. Every race of mankind has such a belief. 



12 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

2. The instincts of the soul impel us to look forward with 
hope and joy; why, if there is no future existence? 

3. The aspirations of the soul — the soul's unrest, shrink- 
ing from death, hope and fear — animals are not distressed by 
the fear of death or animated by the hope of future life. 

4. The thought and desire of immortality is in all na- 
tions and the Creator is good; shall his goodness fail by thus 
tantalizing us with a thought and aspiration that is not to 
be satisfied? Would he be good if he failed here? Why 
should such aspirations not be fulfilled? Is the power of the 
Creator more finite than the mind of his creatures? 

5. Matter once created we believe will continue to exist 
forever: shall we believe that mind which regulates and con- 
trols matter and exercises such dominion over all the rest 
of creation is alone mortal? That the greater shaFI perish 
and the lesser continue forever? 

6. Do not the analogies of nature prove immortal exist- 
ence? Day and night, the seasons, hibernation of plants and 
animals, transformation of insects, etc. In sleeping and 
waking are we not taught it every day of our lives, sleep 
representing death, and waking, immortality or a future life? 

V. 
I believe that good and evil, vice and virtue exist; that 
virtue brings happiness and vice brings misery, and that the 
Creator is the author of good, and that evil, outside of our 
Bible knowledge of it, has some unknown or inexplicable 
cause or origin. The Creator is good and must have made 
man good and to do good, and the good he now is and 
does, (valueless, however, because of lacking the original 
purpose of the Creator), is not his own, but the marred and 
ruined remains of the original work of the Creator in him. 
The evil man does must be his own. "Man is the parent of 
his own vices." This is reasonable, for we know we do 
wrong, and our best reason tells us the Creator cannot do 
wrong. Evil is in man, but we cannot find the origin of it, 
outside of the Bible. Philosophy and reason has never 
reached the root of evil. Yet this very matter of evil or sin 
affects us more than anything else here, in crime, war, sor- 
row, suffering, misery and death, and must continue to affect 
us in the hereafter, unless a remedy is found here, for, 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 13 

"Endless sin means endless woe; 
Into endless sin I go. 
If my soul from reason rent, 
Takes from sin its final bent." 
Reason knows no remedy for sin and evil; the mystery 
and the misery of it remain and must continue. We hunger 
for happiness and we long for rest, but evil mingles bitter 
with every cup of sweet; crime and misery and wretchedness, 
sin and sorrow and sickness and death surround us on every 
hand. In vain the poet inquires of the full, serene and lovely 
moon: 

"Hast thou not seen some spot 
Where miserable man might find a happier lot?" 
And again of his own soul: 

"Is there no happy spot, 
Where mortals may be blest; 
Where grief may find a balm 
And weariness a rest?" 
How many souls have imploringly sought the same 
answer, but to what human being, outside the Bible, has yet 
come more than the echo of his own words in reply? 

VI. 
I believe the Creator lias given us a written revelation. 
I am irresistably led to this belief from the following circum- 
stances: 

1. I am intelligent and capable of receiving and com- 
prehending such a revelation. 

2. I have an aspiring mind — mental and spiritual aspira- 
tions that could not be satisfied without it; aspirations that 
lead me to believe that I am immortal, reach after the in- 
finite, and grope in darkness after the unknown Great First 
Cause. 

3. I exist here with evil within and surrounded by it, 
subject to varying tides of happiness and misery, sickness 
and health, pain and death, yet am wholly ignorant of whence 
I came and whither I go. 

4. I know that evil exists, but I know no certain cause 
of, or remedy for it, notwithstanding it so deeply concerns me. 
I am harassed with evil here and distressed with uncertainty 
of the hereafter. 



14 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

5. I possess moral faculties and qualities which greatly 
affect my happiness or misery, hut am utterly ignorant of 
any fixed laws either producing or directing them. 

6. My Creator is intelligent, omnipotent, all wise and 
good, and capable of giving me the revelation I need — of pro- 
viding for my moral and spiritual nature as well as he has 
for my physical. 

7. Believing this I must believe that he has revealed 
himself to me; doubting such a revelation, I must doubt his 
goodness, for his goodness is seen in his providing for the 
necessities of his creatures; and doubting his goodness I 
must doubt all the rest, step by step, and so sink down into 
blind atheism. But does it not seem much more reasonable 
to believe in a written revelation than to doubt one? To me, 
from such reasons, it seems certain. 

VII. 
I believe that the BIBLE is the revelation of God to man. 
I believe this from the following reasons: 

1. It is the intelligent, merciful, all-wise and good Crea- 
tor's answer to the cry of his needy creature — telling me 
everything about myself and my Maker that I need to know, 
before unknown, showing me everything I need to see — per- 
fectly providing for all my normal, mental and spiritual as- 
pirations. 

2. Evil or sin is in the world, fills it, rests like a pall 
over all mankind, in ignorant heathen nations as well as the 
most enlightened nations, and the Bible of all the books in 
the world contains the only rational, reasonable, effectual 
remedy for sin, bringing pardon, peace and joy, and soul rest. 

3. It gives the only reasonable account of the origin of 
sin or evil to be found anywhere in the world. 

4. No other book claims to be primarily a revelation 
from God; even the Koran only claims to be an addition; 
and even as such is too palpable a contradiction and counter- 
feit to be worthy of consideration in this direction. The 
Chinese and Hindoo sacred books know nothing and teach 
nothing of God. 

5. The Bible everywhere explains and condemns sin and 
sinful man and makes no attempt to conceal the greatest 
sins of its best characters. Its positive and authoritative de- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 15 

nunciations of sin and sinners everywhere and at all times 
is proof of divine rather than human origin. 

6. No other religious book is worthy to be received as 
a revelation from the Creator in the character we believe him 
to possess. All others show the marks of their human or- 
igin in naturally, even though unconsciously, withholding the 
worst aspects of human nature, contrary to what we see in 
the Bible; and in presenting such views of the Supreme 
Being as would be perfectly consistent to the grossness of 
the human mind originating them, but wholly inconsistent 
to a refined and intelligent mind, although only human; 
while in the Bible the most intelligent and refined mind fails 
to fully comprehend, to say nothing of originally conceiving 
the hiarh and holy purity and absolute perfection of the Di- 
vine Character. 

7. The Bible is universal in its application; meets per- 
fectly the spiritual necessities of all mankind of whatever 
rank or class or condition or clime. Others, being of human 
origin, suit in their way the particular country, clime or class 
where they originated, but would never be received or succeed 
under other conditions. 

8. The Bible is all prevailing. No Christian is ever con- 
verted to another religion, but converts to Christianity from 
other religions are made by millions. 

9. The Bible is a history written by many persons at 
different times, in different places reaching over a great per- 
iod of time, probably 1600 years, different writers often 
speaking of the same event, and yet not a single contradiction 
in it all. Such harmony without omnipotence would be well 
nigh, yes, quite impossible, and proves its divine origin 
through Inspiration. 

10. It claims to be the Word of God and its straightfor- 
ward candor and honesty everywhere through all the long 
history, without the least apparent attempt at counterfeit 
anywhere, is strong proof in favor of it. Surely if it were a 
deception there would be thin places in the veil or cloak 
somewhere that we could, see through. 

11. No other religions book in the world makes or re- 
cords the fulfillment of a single prophecy; the Bible is large- 



16 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

ly composed of such prophecies, that no human mind could 
possibly foresee. 

12. No other book records a single miracle, except in 
such fabulous terms as to render its reliability perfectly in- 
credible. But the miracles of the Bible are perfectly natural, 
narrated in simple language, that of itself carries conviction 
of its truthfulness, and both its miracles and its prophecies 
are as well attested by history as any other unquestioned 
events that far in the past. 

13. The antiquity of the Bible is greater than that of 
any other of the so-called sacred books. It is the only 
book that gives a clear connected history of the dealings of 
the Creator with his creatures from the time of their creation; 
it includes or embraces the "beginning" and the "end." 

14. The Bible not only harmonizes with, but forcibly 
teaches all the foregoing points which my reason leads me 
to believe. 

15. "The proof of the pudding is the eating of it." Those 
who have tested the Bible by experiment are satisfied of its 
divine origin and truthfulness, and this has been done by the 
most learned as well as the ignorant. 

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God." 2 Tim. 3:16. 

"I BELIEVE." 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 17 

THE BIBLE COMPANION. 

1. THE BIBLE. 

The world is full of books and of "making many books" 
there is truly no end. But of the almost infinite number of 
books in the world of every kind and quality there is none 
to be compared with the Bible. No other book in the past 
has wielded such an influence, or is moving the world today 
as the Bible. It is pre-eminently THE Book. Sir Walter 
Scott, during his last illness, asked his son-in-law to read to 
him out of the book. "What book?" was the question; and 
the great man's reply was: "There is only one Book — the 
Bible. In the whole world it is called 'The Book.' All other 
iDooks are mere leaves, fragments. The Bible is the only 
complete, perfect book. Its light sheds brightness over the 
grave and into eternity. It is the only book." 

Sir William Jones' opinion of the Bible was written on 
the last leaf of one belonging to him in these strong words: 
""I have regularly and attentively read the Holy Scriptures, 
and am of the opinion that this Volume, independently of its 
divine origin, contains more sublimity and beauty, more pure 
morality, more important history, and finer strains of poetry 
and eloquence than can be found in all other books, in what- 
ever age or language they may have been written." 

No other book so meets or fills the need of the soul. 
"I have led a lonely life," said David Saunders, (the 'Shep- 
lierd of Salisbury Plain'), and often have had but little to 
■eat; but my Bible has been meat, drink and company to me; 
and when want and trouble have come upon me, I don't 
know what I should have done, indeed, if I had not had the 
promises of this book for my stay and support." Let us 
examine this great book a little from seven high view points: 

I. Its Author. 

XSod-given. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 

Man- Scriptures is of any private interpretation. For the 



18 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



delivered, prophecy came not in the old time by the will of 
man; but holy men of God spake as they were 
moved by the Holy Ghost. — 2 Pet. 1:20,21. 

Enough. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
rection, for instruction in righteousness: That the 
man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished 
unto all good works. — 2 Tim. 3:16,17. 

II. Contents. 
Truth. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word 

is truth. — J no. 17:17. 
Purity. Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto 

them that put their trust in him. — Prov. 30:5. 
Enduring. But the Word of the Lord endureth forever. 

And this is the word which by the gospel is 

preached unto you. — 1 Pet. 1:25. 
Adding Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove 

to it. thee, and thou be found a liar. — Prov. 30:6. 

Penalty For I testify unto every man that heareth the 

for words of the prophecy of this book. If any man 

adding. shall add unto these things, God shall add unto 

him the plagues that are written in this book. — 

Rev. 22:18. 
Penalty And if any man shall take away from the 

for taking words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take 
away. away his part out of the book of life, and out of 

the holy city, and from the things which are 

written in this book. — Rev. 22:19. 
Ml. Purpose. 
Salvation. And that from a child thou hast known the 

Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise 

unto salvation through faith which is in Christ 

Jesus. — 2 Tim. 3:15. 
By faith. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; 

for it is the power of God unto salvation to 

everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and 

also to the Greek. — Rom. 1:16. 
A guide. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light 

unto my path. — Ps. 119:105. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



19 



Knowing 



Truth. 



Prove 

teaching. 

Prove 

ourselves. 

How 

prove? 



Seven 
"ones" 
in one. 



Division 
is sin. 



Heathen. 



Christ 
the Judge. 



By His 



IV. Standard of Judgment. 

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the 
spirits whether they be of God: because many 
false prophets are gone out into the world. — 
1 John 4:1. 

To the law and to the testimony: If they speak 
not according to this word, it is because there is 
no light in them. — Is. 8:20. 

Prove all things: hold fast that which is good. 
1 Thess. 5:21. 

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the 
faith; prove your own selves. — 2 Cor. 13:5. 

These were more noble than those in Thessa- 

lonic'a, in that they received the word with all 

readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures 

daily, whether those things were so. — Acts 17:11. 

V. Ground of Union. 

Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit 
in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one 
spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of 
your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one 
God and Father of all, who is above all, and 
through all, and in you all. — Eph. 4:3-6. 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same 
thing, and that there be no divisions among you: 
but that ye be perfectly joined together in the 
same mind and in the same judgment. — 1 Cor. 1 :10. 
VI. Basis of Final Judgment. 

For as many as have sinned without law shall 
also perish without law; and as many as have 
sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. — 
Rom. 2:12. 

But with me it is a very small thing that I 
should be judged by you, or of man's judgment; 
yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know 
nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: 
but he that judgeth me is the Lord. — 1 Cor. 4:3,4. 

And if any man hear my words, and believe 



20 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Word. not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the 

world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth 

me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that 

judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the 

same shall judge him in the last day. — J no. 12:47. 

Degrees And that servant which knew his Lord's will, 

of and prepared not himself, neither did according 

Reward to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 

or But he that knew not, and did commit things 

Punish- worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few 

ment. stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of 

him shall be much required; and to whom men 

have committed much, of him they will ask the 

more. — Lu. 12:47,48. 

VII. Believe It. 
Am 1 But this I confess unto thee, that after the 

greater way which they call heresy, so worship I the 
or God of my fathers, BELIEVING ALL THINGS 

better than WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAW AND IN 
Paul? THE PROPHETS— Acts 24:14. 

To all honest, anxious souls there is a sure, absolutely 
sure, unfailing test of the truth of the Bible, that takes away 
every excuse and must forever condemn us if we reject it. 

John 7:17. "If any man will do his will, he shall know 
of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of 
myself." 

Theodore Monod said: "After all, obedience is the best 
commentary on the Bible. Do and you will know. The Bible 
is true and pure; every word inspired, and is our infallible 
guide. 

The following incident may illustrate the unfortunate, 
pitiable condition of the confirmed infidel or agnostic: 

At a station in the south as the train stopped a man see- 
ing a very fine dog chained in the express car inquired of 
the attendant: 

"Whar that dog a-goin'?" 

"Don' no." 

Don' no?" 

"No; I don' no whar that dog's a-goin'. Ain't anybody 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 21 

knows whar he's a-goin'. He don' no hisself whar he's a- 
goin'." 

The questioner was astonished. How could this be? 

"Why, it's jes' this way. Dat dar dog done gon an* 
chawed up his tag." 

It is possible for us to blind ourselves, shut our eyes to 
the light and knowledge of the truth revealed in the Word of 
God, 

2. THE SEVEN SEALED SAVIOR. 

The Bible or the Word of God will stand or fall just as Jesus 
Christ stands or falls, for every word of the Bible points to 
him as the center. Christ is God expressed to the world 
through His Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the 
Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was 
in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; 
and without him was not anything made that was made. * * * 
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we 
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the 
Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-3, 14. 

In these words we have clearly and positively taught the 
divinity and the humanity of the Son of God, Christ the God- 
man. Many reasons have been given, evidences of the au- 
thenticity of the Bible. No attempt will be made here to 
give all these reasons in detail, but we will notice the seven 
seals which God has put upon his Son. Seven is the Bible 
number denoting perfection, completeness, and these seven 
seals will satisfy every honest inquirer. "Labor not for the 
meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto 
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: 
for him hath God the Father sealed." John 6:27. 

I. God's Voice. 

Baptism. And lo a voice from heaven, saying. This is my 

beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. — Matt. 

3:17. 

Transflg- And there was a cloud that overshadowed 

uration. them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying. 

This is my beloved Son: hear him. — Mark 9:7. 



22 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Third Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a 

time. voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, 

and will glorify it again. — J no. 12:28. 
Peter's For we have not followed cunningly devised 

testimony, fables, when we made known unto you the power 
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were 
witnesses of his majesty. For he received from 
God the Father honor and glory, when there came 
such a voice to him from the excellent glory. This 
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, 
when we were with him in the holy mount. — 
2 Pet. 1:16-18. 

II. Prophecy. 

Destruction And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty 
of of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God 

Babylon overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never 

fulfilled. be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from 
generation to generation: neither shall the Ara- 
bian pitch tent there: neither shall the shepherds 
make their fold there. But wild beasts of the 
desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be 
full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell 
there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild 
beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate 
houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: 
and her time is near to come, and her days shall 
not be prolonged.— Is. 13:19-22. 

Egypt. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither 

shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: 
for I will diminish them, and they shall no more 
rule over the nations. — Ezek. 29:15. 

Tyre. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: 

thou Shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou 
Shalt be built no more; for I the Lord have 
spoken it, saith the Lord God. — Ezek. 26:14. 

Jerusalem. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, 
and shall be led away captive into all nations: 
and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gen- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



23 



tiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. — 
Lu. 21:24. 
Jesus. And he said unto them, These are the words 

which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, 
that all things must be fulfilled, which were writ- 
ten in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and 
in the psalms concerning me. — Lu. 24:44. 

III. Miracle. 

Water into This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana 

wine. of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and 

his disciples believed on him. — J no. 2:11. 

Nicodemus. There was a man of the Pharisees named 
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came 
to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we 
know that thou art a teacher come from God: 
for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, 
except God be with him. — Jno. 3:1,2. 

Enemies. Then gathered the chief priests and the Phari- 

sees a council, and said. What do we? for this 
man doeth many miracles. — Jno. 11:47. 

Peter. Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of 

Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by 
miracles and wonders and signs, which God did 
by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves 
know. — Acts 2:22. 

IV. Resurrection. (See Study No. 52). 

Angels. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. 

Come, see the place where the Lord lay. — Matt. 
28:6. 

IVIary. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day 

of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, 
out of whom he had cast seven devils. — Mark 16:9. 

Peter. He, (David) seeing this before, spake of the 

resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left 
in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This 
Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are wit- 
nesses. — Acts 2:31,32. 

Paul. That Christ should suffer, and that he should 



24 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



be the first that should rise from the dead, and 
should show light unto the people and to the Gen- 
tiles.— Acts 26:23. 

V. His Sinless Life. 

Paul. For such an high priest became us, who is 

holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, 
and made higher than the heavens. — Heb. 7:26. 

For we have not an high priest which cannot 
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but 
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet 
without sin. — Heb. 4:15. 

Peter. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in 

his mouth. — 1 Pet. 2:22. 

John. And we know that he was manifested to take 

away our sins; and in him is no sin. — 1 J no. 3:5. 

Thief. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due 

reward of our deeds; but this man hath done noth- 
ing amiss. — Lu. 23:41. 

Jesus. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I 

say the truth, why do ye not believe me? — 
Jno. 8:46. 

VI. His Teaching. 

And it came to pass when Jesus had ended 
these sayings, the people were astonished at his 
doctrine; for he taught them as one having au- 
thority, and not as the scribes. — Matt. 7:28,29. 

Matthew. And when he was come into his own country, 

he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that 
they were astonished, and said. Whence hath this 
man this wisdom, and these mighty works. — 
Matt. 13:54. 

Mark. And they were astonished at his doctrine; for 

he taught them as one having authority, and not 
as the scribes. — Mark 1:22. 

Luke. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for 

his word was with power. — Lu. 4:32. 

Officers. The officers answered, Never man spake like 

this man. — Jno. 7:46. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



25r 



VII. Results. 

Fore- The Pharisees therefore said among them- 

gleams. selves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? be- 

hold, the world is gone after him. — Jno. 12:19. 

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe 

on him; and the Romans shall come and take 

away both our place and nation. — Jno. 11:48. 

First Howbeit many of them which heard the word 

effects. believed and the number of the men was about 

five thousand. — Acts 4:4. 
Growing. And the word of God increased; and the num- 

ber of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem great- 
ly; and a great company of the priests were 
obedient to the faith. — Acts 6:7. 
Spreading. And when they found them not, they drew 
Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the 
city, crying. These that have turned the world up- 
side down are come hither also. — Acts 17:6. 
Filling the But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy 

world. Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses 

unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and 
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the 
earth. — Acts 1:8. 



s.a 





MchrIistA'^ 




26 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

3. THE TRIUNE GOD. 

The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, first epistle, third 
chapter and sixteenth verse, expressing a universally recog- 
nized truth, says: "And without controversy great is the 
mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified 
in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, 
helieved on in the world, received up into glory," A triune 
Supreme Being has always been a mystery to the world, and 
always will be, at least during our life here. The finite 
cannot expect to understand the infinite fully. 

And yet we may understand even this mystery as far as 
there is any necessity for knowing it. There are many 
mysteries in the world, life, light, matter, magnetism, elec- 
tricity, etc. Who understands all about these? We do not 
need to fully, in order to live and to fulfill the purposes of 
life. Man himself is a triune, or rather tri-partite being, 
doubly so. He has a physical, a mental and a moral nature, 
but does he understand them perfectly? He does not need 
to; yet it takes all these to make the man. Again even his 
mental nature may be and is divided into three parts, intel- 
lect, affections, and will. In the operation, relation and inter- 
dependence of these various elements of our being how many 
mysteries there are! Who understands them all? No one. 
Just so with the mystery of God. We do not need to 
know the whole mystery. As we know enough of natural 
things to live the natural life, so we may know enough of 
God, of spiritual things, he has revealed them to us, to enable 
us to live the spiritual and eternal life. It has pleased this 
Triune Being to reveal himself to us in three persons. The 
Father, creating, upholding, adopting; the Son as Redeemer, 
Sacrifice, Substitute, working out the basis of atonement; the 
Holy Spirit regenerating and sanctifying believers. Let us 
reverently look a little at God as he reveals himself to us 
in His Word. 

I. Who God Is. 
A Spirit. God is a spirit: and they that worship him 

must worship him in spirit and in truth. — J no. 

4:24. 
Name. That men may know that thou, whose name 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



27 



Baptism. 



Benedic- 
tion. 



alone is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the 
earth.— Ps. 83:18. 

II. Triune, 
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptiz- 
ing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost— Matt. 28:19. 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
love of God, and the communion of the Holy 
Ghost, be with you all. Amen. — 2 Cor. 13:14. 
Witnessing. For there are three that bear record in heaven, 
The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and 
these three are one. — 1 J no. 5:7. 

ill. Father. 

Praise. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abra- 

ham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge 
us not: thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Re- 
deemer; thy name is from everlasting. — Is. 63:16. 

Prayer. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, 

Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy 
name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, 
as in heaven, so in earth. — Lu. 11:2. 

Adopting. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord 

Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spirit- 
ual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Ac- 
cording as he hath chosen us in him before the 
foundation of the world, that we should be holy 
and without blame before him in love: Having 
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by 
Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good 
pleasure of his will. — Epli, 1:3-5. 

IV. Son. 

Three And Jesus when he was baptized, went up 

present, straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens 
Father and were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of 
Spirit God descending like a dove, and lighting upon 

witnessing him: And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is 
to the Son. my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.— 
Matt. 3:16,17. 



28 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Saving. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom 

ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God 
exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a 
Savior, for to give repentence to Israel, and for- 
giveness of sins. — Acts 5:30, 31. 

In whom we have redemption through his 
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the 
riches of his grace. — Eph. 1:7. 

V. Holy Spirit. 

Distinct. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit 

descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode 

upon him.— Jno. 1:32. 

"He" But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 

omnipres- whom the Father will send in my name, he shalJ 

ent teach you all things, and bring all things to your 

teacher. remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. — 

Jno. 14:26. 

VI. Equal. 

Father I and my Father are one. — Jno. 10:30. 

and And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; 

Son. and I am glorified in them. — Jno. 17:10. 

Perfect But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled 

union. thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep 

back part of the price of the land? While it re- 
mained, was it not thine own? And after it was 
Father sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast 

and thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou 

Spirit. hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 

—Acts 5:3, 4. 

VII. Harmonious. 

Triple For through him we both have access by one 

Spirit unto the Father. — Eph. 2:18. 

harmony. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the 

same Spirit. And there are differences of admin- 
istrations, but the same Lord. And there are 
diversities of operations, but it is the same God 
which worketh all in all. — 1 Cor. 12:4-6. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 29 

A And he that sent me is with me: the Father 

beautiful hath not left me alone; for I do always those 

things that please him. — J no. 8:29. 
example. Not my will but thine be done. — Lu. 22:42. 

4. THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST. 

To avoid the difficulty found in the preceding study of 
having to view the Supreme Being as a Triune God, or three 
persons in one, some have undertaken to explain the diffi- 
culty by denying it altogether, practically doing so by deny- 
ing the divinity of Jesus Christ. But unless we are more 
ready to see difficulties than not, are really looking for 
them, the last study, to the careful reader, will surely explain 
itself and be plain enough. What better explanation do we 
need than that while God is revealed to us in three persons, 
each having a distinct office and work, as we saw in the 
former study, yet these are essentially and perfectly one 
in thought, purpose and act, infinitely more so than we in 
our tri-partite nature, for our physical, mental and moral 
being, our intellect, affections and will, while truly consti- 
tuting one being, are yet often at sharp variance, while the 
three persons of the Trinity are always in perfect harmony, 
as we saw in the preceding study. 

But again let us think that if nature,' a book we know 
the most about, because living in the midst of it, and ourselves 
a very part of it, is so full of mystery, unfathomable mystery 
to us, whichever way we look, in earth or air or sea, without 
or within, is it, or should it be any wonder that God's Book 
of Revelation should contain some things we do not readily 
understand? There are difficulties all around us in nature 
and in Revelation, and we may well be glad of it, for it is 
proof of the divine rather than the human origin of things. 
Man only understands perfectly and in entirety his own work. 

Earnest, prayerful study of the Bible, however, will solve 
so many difficulties, one by one, that we shall become satis- 
fied and accept the others, fully assured, not that God's Word 
is at fault, but that the only real difficulty is in the breadth 
and depth of the Divine Mind, revealed to us in the Bible, 
and our own narrowness, shallowness, blindness and ignor- 



30 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

ance. The Bible is a large book, (none too large, none too 
small), and we know so little of it. If we could only know 
it all, all its fullness, force and meaning, we would find 
no difficulty in it. 

Moses said, Deut. 29:29, "Secret things belong unto the 
Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong 
unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the 
words of this law." Enough is clearly revealed for the 
obedience of faith and love. Peter said of Paul's writings: 
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these 'things ; 
in which are some things hard to be understood, which they 
that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the 
other Scriptures, unto their own destruction," 2 Pet. 3:16. 
By which it is shown that men are apt to wrest the easy 
Scriptures as well as the hard, which proves that the diffi- 
culty is more with ourselves than with the Word. 

The object of these studies is not so much to get philo- 
sophical reasoning or theological teaching on these great sub- 
jects, as to get the voice of God as revealed in His Word. "To 
the law and to the testimony." Without any specially logical 
arrangement note what the following texts say about the 
divinity of Christ. Isaiah, John, Paul. Plain enough. 
Isaiah's For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is 

two given:- and the government shall be upon his 

first shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonder- 

prophecies, ful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting 

Father, the Prince of Peace. — Is. 9:6. 

Therefore t'ne Lord himself shall give you a 

sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear 

a son, and shall call his name Iinniannel. i "God 

with us," Matt. 1:23).— Is. 7:14. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word 

was with God, and the Word was God. 1 he same 
Clear was in the beginning with God. All things were 

and made by him; and without him was not any 

positive. thing made that was made. — J no. 1:1-3. 

He was in the world, and the world was made 

by him, and the world knew him not, And the 

Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 31 

we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only 
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth, — 
Jno. 1:10,14. 
His Claim. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill 
him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, 
but said also that God was his Father, making 
himself equal with God. — Jno. 5:18. 
Equal That all men should honor the Son, even as 

Honor. they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the 

Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent 
him. — Jno. 5:23. 
Truth Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the 

or Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, 

blasphemy. Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast 
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me 
hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then. 
Even the Shew us the Father ?-^J no. 14:8, 9. 
doubting And Thomas answered and said unto him. My 

one. Lord and My God. — Jno. 20:28. 

Stupendous I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the 
egotism ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, 
if not true, and which is to come, the Almighty. * * * Fear 

not; I am the first and the last. — Rev. 1:8, 17. 
Paul. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the 

second man "is the Lord from heaven. — I Cor. 
15:47. 
Over all. Whose are the fathers, and of whom as con- 

cerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, 
God blessed forever. Amen. — Rom. 9:5. 
More than Who is the image of the invisible God, the 

human. first born of every creature. For by him were all 

things created, that are in heaven, and that are in 
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be 
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or pow- 
ers; all things were created by him and for him: 
and he is before all things, and by him all things 
consist. — Col. 1:15-17. 
Divine. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the 

Godhead bodily.— Col. 2:9. 



32 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Divinity 
veiled in 
humanity. 



Note.— 
'*God our 
Savior," 
and 
"Jesus 
Christ our 
Savior'' 
used inter- 
changably. 



Who, being in the form of God, thought it not 
robbery to be equal with God: But made himself 
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of 
a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. 
—Phil. 2:6, 7. 

But hath in due times manifested his word 
through preaching, which is committed unto me 
according to the commandment of God our Savior; 
To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: 
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father 
and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. — Titus 1 : 
3, 4. 

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; 
that they may adorn the doctrine of God our 
Savior in all things. * * * Looking for that blessed 
hope, and the glorious appearing of the great 
God and our Savior Jesus Christ. — Titus 2:10, 13. 

But after that the kindness and love of God 
our Savior toward man appeared. Not by works 
of righteousness which we have done, but accord- 
ing to his mercy he saved us, by the washing 
or regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost: 
which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus 
Christ our Savior. — Titus 3:4-6. 



THE HOLY SPIRIT. 



If there has been some difficulty in understanding the 
divinity of Christ, the second person in the God-head, leading 
some to deny him such a place, (though the last study must 
have made this perfectly clear,) there has been yet greater 
difficulty in understanding the dotrine of the Holy Spirit, the 
third person of the Trinity, leading some to deny the person- 
ality of the Spirit and His presence and work here in the 
world. 

It is not so strange that this should be the case, seeing 
the Spirit is not a material Being, not one to be seen with 
the eye or heard with the ear. If Jesus was both seen and 
heard and yet was not understood by some, is it such a won- 
der that the Holy Spirit should seem a mystery to many? 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 33 

But Jesus told Nicodemus, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, 
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence 
it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is everyone that is born 
of the Spirit." In this conversation while admitting the mys- 
tery He does not deny the existence of the Spirit, but teaches 
very plainly and positively his presence and work, and that 
we may know of Him, even if we do not see or hear Him, 
even as we know that the wind blows, and expressed sur- 
prise that Nicodemus, a teacher, should be ignorant of this. 

It is not strange, perhaps, that there should be some 
doubt on these two great points, for "The natural man re- 
ceiveth not the things of God," but it is inexpressibly sad 
that there should be any uncertainty here, for there need not 
be, if we will listen to the Word at all. These are funda- 
mental doctrines of salvation on God's side, without which 
no one can be saved, Christ in his Divine-human sacrifice 
on the cross working out the basis of atonement, and the 
Holy Spirit making Christ's work effectual in the salvation 
of souls. Both these doctrines are made so plain in the 
Bible that no earnest seeker for the truth can honestly 
doubt or deny them. To do so must convince any one of 
Avilful blindness to all Bible truth, or woeful prejudice in re- 
jecting a large part of the Bible in order to build up a 
human system or creed. 

Jesus taught his own divinity, and that except a soul be 
"born again," born of the Holy Spirit, it cannot see or enter 
the kingdom of heaven, cannot be saved; and to whom shall 
we go for truth if not to the Great Teacher? 

To make this subject perfectly clear the following three 
studies have been given, the Existence of the Holy Spirit, 
His Personality, and His Office and Work. Only a part of 
the Scriptures are given teaching this doctrine, but these are 
surely enough. 

The Holy Spirit is revealed in both the Old and the New 
Testaments, especially in the latter, and his work is the 
same in both, differing only in the extent and not in the 
nature of it. That the Holy Ghost is not mentioned once in 
the Old Testament, and the Holy Spirit (both meaning the 
same) but a few times, while in the New Testament he is 
spoken of two hundred and sixty-four times, has led some to 



34 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

think that there is a radical difference in the two dispensa- 
tions. But there is only one plan of salvation for adults, 
essentially alike in the Old and in the New. Before Christ, 
men were saved by faith in a Savior to come and regenera- 
tion by the Spirit, as now by faith in a Savior that has come 
and regeneration by the Spirit, the only difference being 
that greater prominence is given now to the Spirit and his 
work; this is especially the Spirit's age. In the old dispen- 
sation the teaching was more rudimentary, (yet same in 
essence), object lessons, types, shadows, ceremonial, suited 
to the understanding of the people then, but still the Holy 
Spirit was there, creating, inspiring prophets, and regener- 
ating and filling souls, a score of texts might be given, 
though no emphasis was laid upon his work, and many were 
not distinctly conscious of his presence and power. Many 
even now are not clearly conscious of the work of the Holy 
Spirit in them. But these studies will enable all to under- 
stand Him and how we may know he is working in us. 

The following little diagram will help us to see the Holy 
Spirit in the Old and the New Testaments, and indeed the 
relation of many other things in these two parts of the 
Word of God, for example, the Law and the Gospel. 



Ceremonial 



Spiritual 




Spiritual ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ • Ceremonial 



In the Old the ceremonial was uppermost, yet the Spirit 
was there as an undercurrent, little seen or consciously 
realized, but there working. In the New the relations are 
changed, the Spirit predominates, yet there is a ceremonial 
substratum, something definite for us to observe and do. 

I. His Existence. 
Beginning. And the earth was without form, and void, 
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And 
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the 
waters. — Gen. 1 :2. 

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 35 

not thy Holy Spirit from me. — Ps. 51:11. 

Old But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit: 

Testament, therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and 

he fought against them. Then he remembered 

the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, 

Where is he that brought them up out of the sea 

with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he 

that put his Holy Spirit within him? — Is. 63:10, 11. 

Three And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily 

Persons shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came 

present. from, heaven, which said. Thou art my beloved 

Son; in thee I am well pleased. — Lu. 3:22. 
Prophesied. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon 
him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the 
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowl- 
. edge and of the fear of the Lord. — Is. 11:2. 

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, 

in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit 

upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the 

Gentiles.— Is. 42:1. 

Fulfilled And straightway coming up out of the water, 

in he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a 

Christ. dove descending upon him. — Mark 1:10. 

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words 
of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure 
unto him. — J no. 3:34. 

II. Relation to the Word. 
The Word Of his own will begat he us with the word of 

converting truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of 
and his creatures. — Jas. 1:18. 

regener- The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the 

ating. soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making 

(as means) wise the simple. — Ps. 19:7. 

Born with Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but 

or by the of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth 
Word but and abideth forever. — 1 Pet. 1:23. 
not of. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying 

The Spirit's the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love 
work. of the brethren, see that ye love one another 

with a pure heart fervently. — 1 Pet. 1:22. 



36 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Born of God Which, were born not of blood, * * * but of 

and of God. — Jno. 1:13. 

the Spirit. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. — 

Jno. 3:8. 
The Word For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, 

is the and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing 

sword even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, 

which the and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner 
Spirit of the thoughts and intents of the heart. — Heb. 

wields- 4:12. 

And take the helmet of salvation, and the 

sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. — 

Eph. 6:17. 

6. DISTINCT PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

While the personality of the Spirit has been seen in the 
preceding study, yet the view there was brief, having another 
object before us. In the score or more passages cited in this 
study, can any one fail to see clearly that the Holy Spirit is 
a real Person and is present in the world doing a definite 
work? 

Filled with. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said 

unto them, ye rulers of the people, and elders of 

Israel. — Acts 4:8. 
Full of. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out seven men of 

honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, 

whom we may appoint over this business. — 

Acts 6:3. 
Receive. Who, when they were come down, prayed for 

them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. — 

Acts 8:15. 
Special He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy 

gift. Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto 

him. We have not so much as heard whether there 

be any Holy Ghost.— Acts 19:2. 
Speaking. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, 

the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and 

Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. — 

Acts 13:2. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 37 

Holy Ghost Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to 
appointing, all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, 
which he hath purchased with his own blood. — 
Acts 20:28. 
Falling But when they believed Philip preaching the 

upon. things concerning the kingdom of God, and the 

Received, name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both 
men and women. * * * Now when the apostles 
which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had 
received the Word of God, they sent unto them 
Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, 
prayed for them, that they might receive the 
Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none 
of them: only they were baptized in the name 
of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands 
upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost. — 
Acts 8:12, 14-17. 
Shedding And hope maketh not ashamed; because the 

love love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 

abroad. Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Rom. 5:5. 

First fruits And not only they, but ourselves also, which 
received. have received the first fruits of the Spirit, even we 
ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the 
adoption, towit, the redemption of our body. — 
Rom. 8:23. 
Dwelling But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, 

in us. if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now 

if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is 
none of his. — Rom. 8:9. 
Sealing. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard 

The the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: 

"earnest." in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were 
sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is 
the earnest of our inheritance until the redemp- 
tion of the purchased possession, unto the praise 
of his glory.— Eph. 1:13,14. 
Grieving And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, where- 

Him. by ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. — 

Eph. 4:30. 



38 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



"He"— 
"Him." 
Given 
to us. 

Witnessing. 



Given us. 



Given us. 



"With" 
and "in" 
believers. 
"He"— 
"Him." 



Destitute 
of the 
Spirit. 
Sad lack. 



God's 
promise 
to give. 
Condition, 



He shall glorify me * * I will send him unto 
you. — Jno. 16:14, 7. 

He therefore that dispiseth, despiseth not man 
but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy 
Spirit— 1 Thes. 4:8. 

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth 
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, 
Abba, Father. — Gal. 4:6. 

And he that keepeth his commandments 
dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we 
know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which 
he hath given us. — 1 Jno. 3:24. 

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and 
he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. — 
1 Jno. 4:13. 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give 
you another Comforter, that he may abide with 
you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the 
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, 
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he 
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. — Jno. 
14:16,17. 

These are murmurers, complainers, walking 
after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh 
great swelling words, having men's persons in ad- 
miration because of advantage. But, beloved, re- 
member ye the words which were spoken before 
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How 
that they told you there should be mockers in 
the last time, who should walk after their own 
ungodly lusts. These be they who separate them- 
selves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye 
beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy 
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselvea 
in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our 
Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. — Jude 16-20. 

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is 
a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a 
fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if 
he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 



THlE BIBLE COMPANION 39 

"ask." If ye then, being evil, know how to give good 

gifts unto your children; how much more shall 
your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to 
them that ask him. — Luke 11:11-13. 

7. OFFICE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

In each of these studies about the Holy Spirit we can 
see his existence, his personality, and something of his work. 
The three are one, like the Trinity, yet each study has a dis- 
tinct purpose. Upon the work of the Holy Spirit many pas* 
sages might be cited from the Old Testament, showing some- 
thing of his work there, resting upon God's people and being 
within them, but as this is all given so much more fully in 
the New Testament we will take our texts from that. Let us 
note ten distinct lines of His work, two handfuls, and some 
general effects. Four or five other points might have been 
included, but were presented in the preceding study on His 
personality, for example, "speaking," "appointing," "filling," 
"sealing," "shedding love abroad," etc. 

I. Distinct Work. 
Enlighten- 1. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is 

ing. come, he will guide you into all truth: for he 

"He" six shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he 
times. shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show 

you things to come. — J no. 16:13. 
Convicting. 2. And when he is come, he will reprove the 
("He.") world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judg- 
ment. — J no. 16:8. 
Revealing a 3. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive 
Savior. of mine, and shall show it unto you. — Jno. 16:14. 

Regener- 4. Not by works of righteousness which we 

ating. have done, but according to his mercy he saved 

us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing 
of the Holy Ghost— Titus 3:5. 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee. 

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit 

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. — 

Jno. 3:5. 

Sanctify- 5. Elect according to the foreknowledge of 



40 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

ing. God the Father, through sanctification of the 

Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood 
of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace, be 
multiplied. — 1 Pet. 1:2. 
Comfort- 6. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is ex- 

ing. pedient for you that I go away: for if I go not 

away, the Comforter will not come unto you; 
but if I depart, I will send him unto you. — 
Jno. 16:7. 
Strength- 7. That he would grant you, according to the 

en ing. riches of his glory, to be strengthened with 

might by his Spirit in the inner man. — Eph. 3:16. 
Teaching. 8. For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the 

same hour what ye ought to say. — Lu. 12:12. 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall 
teach you all things, and bring all things to your 
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.^ 
Jno. 14:26. 
Guiding. 9. For as many as are led by the Spirit of 

God, they are the sons of God. — Rom. 8:14. 

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed 
to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them 
not.— Acts 16:7. 
Testifying. 10. But when the Comforter is come, whom I 

will send unto you from the Father, even the 
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, 
he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear 
witness, because ye have been with me from the 
beginning. — Jno. 15:26, 27. 

II. Some General Effects. 
Changes But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, 

our life. - if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now 
Enables us if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is 
to call God, none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body 
"Father." is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life be- 
cause of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him 
that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, 
he that raised up Christ from the dead shall 
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 41 

that dwelletli in you. Therefore, brethren, we 
are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the 
flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: 
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds 
of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led 
by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage 
again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of 
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The 
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that 
we are the children of God. — Rom. 8:9-16. 
The flesh Now the works of the flesh are manifest, 

or old life, which are these, adultery, fornication, unclean- 
ness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, 
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, 
heresies,- envyings, murders, drunkenness, revel- 
ings, and such like: of the which I tell you be- 
fore, as I have also told you in time past, that 
they which do such things shall not inherit the 
kingdom of God. 
The new But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

life. long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 

Triumph ness, temperance: against such there is no law. 
of the new And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh 
over the with the affections and lusts. If we live in the 
old. Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not 

be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, 
envying one another. — Gal. 5:19-26, 

8. OBEDIENCE ENJOINED. 

From the emphasis placed upon the Holy Spirit, his per- 
sonality, office and work, in the preceding studies, some may 
fall into the error of thinking that the only obedience re- 
quired of us today is obedience to the Holy Spirit, that we 
are led by the Spirit, and that this is the end of all obliga- 
tion. 

^lany have gone to the extreme of thinking and even 
saying that men were under the law in Old Testament times, 
I)ut now we are "under grace;" that then they served the 
letter, but now the Spirit; that then they were bound by 
the law, but now we are free from it, to do just as we please. 



42 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

only being led by the gospel law of love and by the Spirit. 
But we need to remember that all the moral and spiritual 
requirements of the old dispensation are just as binding now 
as ever. Only the types and shadows, the ceremonial law, 
was abolished in Christ. We may not be "under the curse" 
if we are in Christ, for he was made a curse for us, took 
that upon himself, but for our disobedience to any of the 
spiritual requirements, precepts, of either the Old or the 
New Testaments, we shall suffer great loss. We are bound 
by every precept of the New Testament especially; bound 
to obey whether we feel like it or not. 

We are not bound by these precepts as the initial law 
of life, for life is not by law but of grace, but we are bound 
by them as the law of the largest life, the life of greatest 
usefulness here and fullest reward hereafter. Obedience is 
"gold, silver, precious stones." Disobedience is "wood, hay, 
stubble." (See 1 Cor. 3). We are indeed to be constrained by 
love and led by the Spirit, but Jesus said, "If ye love me, ye 
will keep my commandments." (John 14:15 R. V.). And we 
need to remember again that the Holy Spirit will always lead 
us to obey Christ's word and never to disobey it. No matter 
what our "feeling," we have reason to suspect any "spirit" 
or influence that leads us to do things contrary to the pre- 
cepts of Christ, or to neglect and fail to do them. The Holy 
Spirit gave the Word, and He will not lead us to disobey it; 
God will not contradict himself. 

The writer feels very deeply that doing as we please or 
"feel like it," disregard for law, in the home, in the state, 
in religion, is the supreme evil of this age. We need a cam- 
paign of education regarding obedience to law, domestic, 
school, social, civil, Divine. Several studies are given show- 
ing the teachings of God's Word. The old Negro preacher had 
it right: "Brethren, whateber de good God tell me to do in 
his blessed Book, dat I'm goin' to do. If I see in it that I must 
jump troo a stone wall, I'm gwine to jump at it. Going troo 
it b'longs to God; jumpin' at it 'longs to me." 

The story is told of a young general in the ninth cen- 
tury who, with five hundred men, came against a king with 
twenty thousand. The king sent word that it was the height 
of folly in so small an army to resist his legions. In reply 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 43 

the general called one of his men and said, "Take that sword 
and drive it to your heart." The man did so, and fell dead. 
To another he said, "Leap into yon chasm," and the man in- 
stantly obeyed. "Go," he said to the messenger, "and tell 
your king we have five hundred such men. We will die, but 
never surrender." The messenger returned with his mes- 
sage — a message that struck terror into the heart of the 
whole army of the king. With such a spirit of obedience on 
the part of God's people today, what might not our Great 
Captain accomplish. 

I. Old Testament. 

God's Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and 

voice. fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey 

his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto 

him. — Deut. 4:4. 

Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the 

Lord thy God, and do his commandments and 

his statutes, which I command thee this day. — 

Deut. 27:10. 
Abolished? Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with 
No! thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor 

knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither 

thou goest. — Eccl. 9:10. 
Where Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the 

Christ held book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, 
the law. O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart. — 

Ps. 40:7,8. 
Where I Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I 

should might not sin against thee. — Ps. 119:11. 

have It. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great de- 

Obedience light in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obey- 
the best ing the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is bet- 
thing, ter than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of 

rams. — I Sam. 15:22. 

II. New Testament. 

God first. Then Peter and the other apostles answered 

and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 
—Acts 5:29. 

A choice. Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves 



u 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Children. 



Servants. 



Obey 
pastors as 
they give 
the Word. 



Hearers 

or 
Doers. 



Hearty 
service. 



Strength 
for it. 
Happy. 



servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye 
obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience 
unto righteousness? — Rom. 6:16. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for 
this is right. Honor thy father and mother. — 
Eph. 6:1,2. 

Servants, obey in all things your masters ac- 
cording to the flesh; not with eye service, as 
men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing 
God.— Col. 3:22. 

Obey them that have the rule over you, and 
submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, 
as they that must give an account, that they may 
do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is un- 
profitable for you. — Heb. 13:17. 

And if any man obey not our word by this 
epistle, note that man, and have no company with 
him, that he may be ashamed.; — 2 Thess.3:14. 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers 
only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a 
hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like 
unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, 
and straightway forgetteth what manner of man 
he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law 
of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a 
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man 
shall be blessed in his deed. — Jas. 1:22-25. 

For not the hearers oi; tiie law are just be- 
fore God, but the doers of the law shall be jus- 
tified.— Rom. 2:13. 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all 
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to 
God and the Father by him. And whatsoever ye 
do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto 
men. — Col. 3:17, 23. 

I can do all things through Christ which 
strengtheneth me. — Phil. 4: 13. 

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye 
do them.— Jno. 13:17. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 45 



9. REWARD OF OBEDIENCE. 

The obedience enjoined in the last study may sometimes 
seem hard, but it always pays to obey God implicitly and im- 
mediately. God's Word should be the end of all questioning 
doubt and indecision. When God speaks it should be — • 
"Ours not to make reply; 
Ours not to reason why; 
Ours but to do or die." 
We may not always understand God's reason for his com- 
mand. The child may not always understand the reason for 
a parent's command and the parent may not always explain, 
but the child is safest in obeying and so are we, even if God 
doesn't always tell us why. This incident in Prussia will 
illustrate. 

The switchman is at his post; the train is coming; he 
sees it, he has lifted the lever, he has pulled it over, the 
points have shifted, and the train will run on all right. But 
as he pulls the lever tight and holds it firm he turns his head. 
Oh, horror! his own dear little prattling boy is running up 
the very line towards the coming train! what shall he do? 
"Lie down!" he wildly shouts, and the child obeys. The train 
dashes on, and is rushing away in the distance. The excited 
father bounds, expecting to see his darling child a mangled 
corpse, and finds him breathing, living, unharmed. The train 
has passed over him. Disobedience would have been death; 
obedience was life. The command of the gospel is, "Believe 
and live." To disbelieve is to die forever. Every precept 
obeyed brings present good and eternal reward. Disobedience 
brings loss for time and eternity. 

I. Old Testament Promises. 
God's Now therefore, if ye will obey my voite in- 

treasure. deed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a 
peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for 
all the earth is mine. — Ex, 19:5. 
Blessing. A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of 

the Lord your God, which I command you this day. 
— Deut. 11:27. 
Crops If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my com- 



46 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

promised, mandments, and do them; then I will give you 
rain in due season, and the land shall yield her 
increase, and the trees of the field shall yield 
their fruit. — Lev. 26:3,4. 
Fulfilled. Nevertheless he left not himself without wit- 

ness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from 
heaven, and fruitful reasons, filling our hearts 
with food and gladness. — Acts 14:17. 
Victory And five of you shall chase a hundred, and a 

in war. hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; 

and your enemies shall fall before you by the 
sword. — Lev. 26:8. 
Fulfilled. And they stood every man in his place round 

about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, 
and fled. — Judges 7:21, 
Prosperity. And your threshing shall reach unto the 
vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sow- 
ing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, 
and dwell in your land safely. — Lev. 26:5. 
Fulfilled. Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto 

his people Israel, according to all that he 
promised: there hath not failed one word of all 
his good promise, which he promised by the hand 
of his servant Moses. — 1 Kings 8:56. 
fsHea If they obey and serve him, they shall spend 

hard their days in prosperity, and their years in pleas- 

Master? ures.— Job 36:11. 

II. New Testament Reward. 
Will It pay? Who will render to every man according to 
his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in 
well doing seek for glory and honor and immor- 
tality, eternal life. — Rom. 2:6,7. 

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man 

doeth, the same shall he receive of the liOrd, 

whether he be bond or free. — Eph 6:8. 

Pleasing And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, 

God. because we keep his commandments, and do those 

things that are pleasing in his sight.— 1 J no. 3:22. 

Obedient, And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward 

Rewarded, is with me, to give every man according as 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



47 



Happy. his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the 

beginning and the end, the first and the last. 
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that 
they may have right to the tree of life, and may 
enter in through the gates into the city. — Rev. 
22:12-14. 
Great and Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for what- 

solemn soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For 

lessons. he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap 
corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall 
of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not 
be weary in well doing: for in due season we 
shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore 
opportunity, let us do good unto all men, espe- 
cially unto them who are of the household of 
faith.— Gal. 6:7-10. 

10. THE LAW. 



When there are a thousand requirements in God's Word, 
negative and positive laws, commandments, statutes and pre- 
cepts, what are we to understand by the subject of this 
study? While there are a multitude of these laws they may 
all be classed in two divisions, the ceremonial, and the moral 
or spiritual. Both kinds are found in both the Old and the 
New Testaments, the ceremonial predominating in the Old, 
the spiritual in the New. The ceremonial in the Old, fulfilled 
in Christ, types, shadows, etc., was abolished when he came, 
and has passed away. The ceremonial of the New, baptism, 
Lord's supper, etc., is to continue until He comes again. The 
moral or spiritual law is the only essentially enduring law; 
it will abide forever. The ceremonial was and is essential 
in its time and place, but will all pass away finally. 

The law that has the greatest claim on us is the moral 
or spiritual, comprised briefly in the words of Jesus, "Thou 
Shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto 
it, Thou Shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two 
commandments hang all the law and the prophets." The 
<;eremonial laws of both the Old and the New Testaments 



48 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

any one could or can obey, for they were and are only exter- 
nal and formal. Yet to observe even these rightly, so as to 
please God, a spiritual element must enter in, for they must 
observe the ceremonies and we the ordinances, etc., with 
love in our hearts to God, to make our service acceptable to 
him. 

To do this, or to keep the spiritual law, for the natural 
man in either dispensation is impossible, for "The carnal 
mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the 
law of God, neither indeed can be." We are under the spirit- 
ual and eternal law of God, bound by it, utterly unable from 
our sinful condition to keep it, our condition helpless and 
hopeless in our sin. How can we escape? What is impos- 
sible with man is possible with God. He has a way out for 
us if we will seek for it, and these studies as we continue 
will help to make it plain. 

"Perfect," The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the 

converting, soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making 
(as means) wise the simple. — Ps. 19:7. 

But the word of the Lord endureth forever. 
And this is the word which by the gospel is 
preached unto you. — 1 Pet. 1:25. 
Enduring. Think not that I ana come to destroy the law, 

or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to 
fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and 
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise 
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. — iVIatt. 
5:17,18. 
Holy. Wherefore the law is holy, and the command- 

Spiritual, ment holy, and just and good. Was then that 
Revealing which is good made death unto me? God forbid. 
sin. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death 

in me by that which is good; that sin by the com- 
mandment might become exceedingly sinful. For 
we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, 
sold under sin. What shall we say then? Is the 
law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, 
but by the law: for I had not known lust, except 
the law had said. Thou shalt not covet. — Rom. 
7:12-14,7. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



49 



All under Now we know that what things soever the law 

law. saith, .it saith to them that are under the law: 

that every mouth may be stopped, and all the 

world may become guilty before God. — Rom. 3:19. 

Warning Whosoever therefore shall break one of these 

of least commandments, and shall teach m^en so, he 

Jesus. shall be called the least in the kingdom of 

heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, 

the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 

heaven. — Matt. 5:19. 
Judged For as many as have sinned without law shall 

by it. also perish without law: and as many as have 

sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. — 

Rom. 2:12. 
Broken For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and 

link spoil yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. — Jas, 
a chain. 2:10. 
Not justify Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall 

no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law 

is the knowledge of sin. — Rom. 3:20. 
Could not Is the law then against the promises of God? 

give life God forbid: for if there had been a law given 
or which could have given life, verily righteousness 

Christ died should have been by the law. — Gal. 3:21. 
In vain. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if 

righteousness come by the law, then Christ is 

dead in vain.— ^Ga!. 2:21. 
Grace Moreover the law entered, that the offense 

meets might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did 

the need. much more abound. — Rom. 5:20 
Law bring, . For the law was given by Moses, but grace and 
(drive) us truth came by Jesus Christ. — Jno. 1:17. 
to Christ. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to 

.bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified 

by faith.— Gal. 3:24. 



50 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

11. NEW TESTAMENT COMMANDS. 

Many have been accustomed to look upon the Old Testa- 
ment as a book of laws hard or impossible to keep, but that 
happily for us it has all passed away, and that now we are 
in the New Testament age where we are free from the re- 
straints of law, are in our majority and no longer under a 
schoolmaster. 

As we have already seen, however, all that is spiritual of 
the Old has been incorporated in the New and is to continue, 
with many new requirements added. Every, even the slight- 
est reader of the Bible has noticed the two kinds of com- 
mands we are to observe, the negative and the positive, or 
the "thou Shalt nots" and the "thou shalts," the violation of 
which by us constitute our "sins of commission" and "sins of 
omission." Many no doubt have also noticed that while both 
kinds of commands are found in both Testaments, the nega- 
tive predominates in the Old and the positive in the New. In 
this study let us look at a few of these positive New Testa- 
ment commands. Hundreds more might be given, but these 
stand out most prominently — ten points. 

Christ's 1. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the 

first words: kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe 
"Repent," the gospel.— Mk. 1:15. 

"Believe," Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be 

"Be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus 

baptized." Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall re- 
Peter, at ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost. — Acts 2:38. 
Pentecost. He that believeth and is baptized shall be 

Jesus. saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

~Mk. 16:16. 
Self-denial. 2. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and 
"The said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy 

dearest way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the 

idol I poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: 

have and come, take up the cross, and follow me. — 

known." Mk. 10:21. 

Confess ■ 3. Whosoever therefore shall confess me be- 

Christ. fore men, him will I confess also before my 

Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



51 



Heavenly 

things 

first. 



Love God. 



Love our 
enemies. 



Giving; 
our bodies, 
0L3r money 



Crucifying 
the flesh. 



Actions 
reversed. 
Feelings 
reversed. 



deny me before men, him will I also deny before 
my Father which is in heaven. — Matt. 10:32,33. 

4. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and 
his righteousness; and all these things shall be 
added unto you. — Matt. 6:33. 

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and 
where thieves do not break through nor steal. — 
Matt. 6:20. 

5. And he answering said, Thou shalt love 
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all 
thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself. — ^^Lu. 10:27. 

6. But I say unto you. Love your enemies, 
bless them that curse you, do good to them that 
hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use 
you, and persecute you. — Matt. 5:44. 

Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; 
If he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou 
shalt heap coals of fire on his head. — Rom. 12:20. 

7. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the 
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a 
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which 
is your reasonable service. — Rom. 12:1. 

Therefore as ye abound in everything, in 
faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all 
diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye 
abound in this grace also. — 2 Cor. 8:7. 

8. Mortify therefore your members which are 
upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inor- 
dinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covet- 
ousness, which is idolatry. — Col. 3:5. 

9. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist 
the devil and he will flee from you. — J as. 4:7. 

10. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor 
that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 
— Rom. 12:9. 

Old things are passed away; behold, all things 
are become new. — 2 Cor. 5:17. 



52 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

12. NEW TESTAMENT OBEDIENCE. 

We have already seen that life, spiritual and eternal life,, 
is not of law, or by the law, and yet both moral law and 
gospel precept are binding upon every one, and obedience 
here is of tremendous importance to us all. We are not saved 
by our obedience, for salvation is not of works, but we are 
rewarded for our faithfulness, will have rich and full or small 
reward according to the measure of our obedience. And 
while we do not obey for the sake of the reward, but for the 
honor of the Law-giver and the love we have for Him, he ha& 
yet promised us the reward as one incentive to obedience, 
not the highest, and we will be pleased if it is large, or may 
be greatly disappointed if it is small. 

If we think because we are saved it will not make much 
difference how we live, we shall get into heaven anyway, 
and that will be good enough, about all the reward any one 
can have or wish for, that we shall all be alike there; if we 
think this way, we shall make one great mistake sure, and 
may make another fatal one. If we care so little for the 
commands of our King, think so lightly of obedience and 
duty, there is much room to doubt whether we are saved at 
all. Let us be careful lest we make this fatal mistake. The 
rewards of the saved will differ according to their faithful- 
ness. We may each have all the joy we are capable of 
holding, but a thimble cannot hold as much as a barrel, or a 
babe enjoy what a full grown man or woman can. Our ca- 
pacity there will depend upon our cultivation, growth, de- 
velopment here, and this is effected through our obedience. 
Disobedience, neglect, dwarfs the soul. 

Again, if we are saved, we have laid a right foundation. 
(1 Cor. 3:11). But who wants a bare foundation? Infinitely 
good in this case, but still the Apostle teaches that we are 
to go on building on this foundation. Disobedience and neg- 
lect is "wood, hay and stubble." Obedience is "gold, silver, 
precious stones." All our work will be tried by fire. All our 
disobedience and neglect will be burned up and we shall 
"suffer loss," yet if we are on the true foundation, we shall 
be saved, "though as by fire;" the foundation will stand. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



53 



Our obedience will stand the test, will come out of the fire 
all right, and for it we shall "receive a reward." Do we want 
to be barely saved, squeeze into heaven a dawrfed soul or a 
babe, or have an abundant entrance and a full reward? 
Depend upon it, the way we hear and heed our Savior's 
words will determine. 

The 1. Preach the word; be instant in season, out 

solemn of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort; with all long- 

charge, suffering and doctrine. For the time will come 

when they will not endure sound doctrine; but 
after their own lusts will they heap to them- 
selves teachers, having itching ears; and they 
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and 
shall be turned unto fables. — 2 Tim. 4:2-4. 
Faithful . 2. Then Peter and the other apostles ans- 
even in wered and said, We ought to obey God rather 

Persecu- than men. — Acts 5:29. 

tion. And they called them, and commanded them 

not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 
Acts 5:18. 

But Peter and John answered and said unto 
them. Whether it be right in the sight of God to 
hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 
For we cannot but speak the things which we have 
seen and heard. — Acts 4:19,20. 

3. But in vain they do worship me, teaching 
for doctrines the commandments of men. — iVlatt. 
15:9. 

Wherefore the Lord said. Forasmuch as this 
people draw near me with their mouth, and with 
their lips do honor me, but have removed their 
heart far from me, and their fear toward me is 
taught by the precept of men. — Isa. 29:13. 

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and command- 
ments of men, that turn from the truth. — Titus 
1:14. 

4. To the law and to the testimony: If they 
speak not according to this word, it is because 
there is no light in them. — Is. 8:20. 

ALL Teaching them to observe all things whatso- 



Vain 
worship. 

Men's 
precepts 



Fables. 



THE rule. 



54 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



things. 



Commit 

to 
others. 

Littleness 

or 
Greatness. 



Beware 
of dis- 
sembling. 



Some 
Reward. 



ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 
—Matt. 28:20. 

And the things that thou hast heard of me 
among many witnesses, the same commit thou to 
faithful men, who shall be able to teach others 
also. — 2 Tim. 2:2. 

5. Whosoever therefore shall break one of 
these least commandments, and shall teach men 
so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of 
heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, 
the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 
heaven. — Matt. 5:19. 

6. But what think ye? A certain man had 
two sons; and he came to the first, and said. Son, 
go work today in my vineyard. He answered and 
said, I will not; but afterward he repented and 
went. And he came to the second, and said like- 
wise. And he answered and said, I go, sir; and 
went not.— Matt. 21:28-30. 

7. Blessed are they that do his command- 
ments, that they may have right to the tree of 
life, and may enter in through the gates into the 
city. — Rev. 22:14. 



13. MAN IN SIN. 



In following these studies thus far, concerning the Bible, 
God and His Law, we have anticipated slightly some of the 
following studies. We have spoken of man as obeying God's 
law, but we have not told how he can do this. Let us novv 
take up the study of man in his fall, restoration, and life of 
obedience. 

Man was created holy, as pure as the angels, though a 
lower order, having a physical as well as a spiritual nature. 
He was placed under law, as all rational, intelligent beings 
must be, and made capable of obeying it, or he would not 
have been accountable. Though tempted, he yet deliberate- 
ly chose to disobey the law, believing the devil's lie rather 
than God's truth, and so "fell" through sin, "For s'in is the 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



55 



transgression of the law," and now is " in sin," helpless and 
hopeless in himself, totally depraved or alienated from God 
in mind and heart, required to obey God's law, yet from his 
depraved nature utterly unable to do so, "The carnal mind 
is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of 
God, neither indeed can be," and under an eternal curse. 
"Man in sin" is an awful thing, and his way out a marvel or 
miracle of Divine goodness and power. No wonder the 
angels desired to look into these things. Shall man alone be 
indifferent? Follow and note these Scriptures carefully. 
Man at 1. So God created man in his own image, in 

first pure, the image of God created he him; male and fe- 
male created he them. And God saw everything 
that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. 
Gen. 1:27,31. 
Under law. Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely 
eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good 
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day 
that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. — 
Gen. 2:16, 17. 

2. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth 
also the law: for sin is the transgression of the 
law. — 1 John 3:4. 

And when the woman saw that the tree was 
good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, 
and a tree to be desired to make one wise, (the 
devil said so) she took of the fruit thereof, and 
did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; 
and he did eat. — Gen. 3:6. 

3. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into 
the world, and death by sin; and so death passed 
upon all men, for that all have sinned. — Rom. 5:12. 

For since by man came death, by man came 
also the resurrection of the dead. For as in 
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive.— 1 Cor. 15:21,22. 

And you hath he quickened who were dead in 
tresspasses and sins; wherein in time past ye 
walked according to the course of this world, ac- 
cording to the prince of the power of the air, the 



Sin 
defined. 

First sin. 



Results; 



Natural 
death. 



Spiritual 

and 
Eternal 
death. 



.56 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

spirit that now worketh in the children of disobe- 
dience: among whom also we all had our conversa- 
tion in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfill- 
ing the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and 
were by nature the children of wrath, even as 
others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his 
great love wherewith he loved us, even when we 
were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with 
Christ, (by grace ye are saved.) — Eph. 2:1-5, 
"The second death." — Rev. 21:8. 

Born 4. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in 

:in sin. sin did my mother conceive me. — Ps. 51:5. 

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints, yea, 
the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much 
more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh 
iniquity like water. — Job 15:15, 16. 

Universal 5. As it is written, there is none righteous, 

depravity, no not one: there is none that understandeth, 
there is none that seeketh after God. They are 
all gone out of the way, they are together become 
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, 
not one. * * * For all have sinned and come short 
of the glory of God.— Rom. 3:10-12,23. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have 
turned everyone to his own way. — Is. 53:6. 

Helpless 6. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the 

and leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that 

Hopeless, are accustomed to do evil. — Jer. 13:23. 

Who can bring a clean thing out of an un- 
clean? Not one. — Job. 14:4. 

Cannot Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am 

Restore pure from my sin? — Prov. 20:9. 

ourselves. How then can man be justified with God? Or 

how can he be clean that is born of woman? Be 
hold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, 
the stars are not pure in his sight. How much 
less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, 
which is a worm? — Job. 25:4-5. 

Under 7. For as many as are of the works of the 

the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 57 

<;urse. is every one that continueth not in all things 

which are written in the book of the law to do 
them.— Gal. 3:10. 

14. FRUITS OF SIN. 

Some of these we have seen in the preceding study, but 
there are more. God has said, "Whatsoever a man soweth, 
that shall he also reap." If we sow sin, we must reap sin's 
harvest. . "He that soweth to his flesh (through sin) shall 
of the flesh reap corruption." We may be tempted and de- 
ceived but ignorance and blindness will not save us from 
the sad results. The child may not understand the laws of 
heat, but if it puts its hand on the red-hot stove, it will surely 
be burned. Sin always blinds and deceives and Satan never 
fulfills his fromises. 

A ruler once told his servant to keep away from a 
certain cave in his grounds and to keep others away. The 
servant wondering about this, thought the cave must con- 
tain a great treasure. One night he got a fellow-servant to 
help him roll the stone from the mouth of the cave, when a 
tiger confined there, sprang upon and slew them both. How 
like the sin cf our first parents! Sin is an awful thing — 
worse than a blood-thirsty tiger. See some of sin's fruits in 
this life in this study. Read Deut. 28:15-68 entire. 
Evil 1. And a curse, if ye will not obey the com- 

promised, mandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside 
out of the way which I command you this day, 
to go after other gods, which ye have not known. 
— Ceut. 11:28. 

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not 
hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to 
observe to do all his commandments and his 
statutes which I command thee this day; that all 
these curses shall come upon thee and overtake 
thee.— Deut. 28:15. 
Promise 2. The Lord shall send upon thee curs- 

,ofevil ing", vexation, and rebuke, in all thou settest 

thine hand unto for to do, until thou be de- 
stroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of 



58 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



fulfilled. 



Mildew, etc 



fulfilled. 



Defeat 



fulfilled. 



Failure 



fulfilled. 



Old 

and 

New 

Testaments 



the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast 
forsaken me. — Peut. 28:20. 

Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the 
Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had 
said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and 
they were greatly distressed. — Judges 2:15. 

3. The Lord shall smite thee with a consump- 
tion, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, 
and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, 
and with blasting, and with mildew; and they 
shall pursue thee until thou perish. — Deut. 28:22. 

I have smitten thee with blasting and mildew: 
when your gardens and your vineyards and your 
fig trees and your olive trees increased, the pal- 
mer worm devoured them: yet have ye not re- 
turned unto me, saith the Lord. — Amos 4:9. 

4. The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten 
before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way 
against them, and flee seven ways before them; 
and shall be removed into all the kingdoms of the 
earth. — Deut. 28:25. 

And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty 
and six men: for they chased them from before 
the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in 
the going down: wherefore the hearts of the 
people melted, and became as water. — Josh. 7:5. 

5. Thou Shalt carry much seed out into the 
field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust 
shall consume it. — Deut. 28:38. 

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye 
eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are 
not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is 
none warm; and he that earneth wages, earneth 
wages to put it into a bag with holes. — Hag. 1:6. 

6. But if they obey not, they shall perish by 
the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 
—Job 36:12. 

But unto them who are contentious and do not 
obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indig- 
nation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 59 

every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew 
first, but also of the Gentile. — Rom. 2:8,9. 
No 7. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for 

partiality the wrong which he hath done: and there is no 
and respect of persons. — Col. 3:25. 

No For the time has come that judgment must be- 

escape. gin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, 

what shall the end be of them that obey not the 
gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be 
saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner ap- 
pear?— 1 Pet. 4:17, 18. 

15. PENALTY OF SIN. 

We have seen in the last study some of the sad results 
of sin, or disobedience. But temporal loss is not all of the 
fruits of sin, or the worst; that is but the beginning of woes. 
There is an awful spiritual penalty attached to sin, as we 
may see in this study and the next. 

God does not say four times as much about cursing as 
about blessing in that twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy 
because he loves to curse rather than bless, for his great 
desire is to bless, and his "strange work" is to curse. But 
God knows infinitely better than we do, what the awful con- 
sequences of sin are, and he gives us these and a thousand 
other warnings that we may see a little and be led to avoid 
sin. We love to think of God's promises of blessing, thous- 
ands of them; they bring comfort and encouragement. But 
we need to remember that God will fulfill everyone of his 
promises, of evil as well as of good. He would not be God 
if he broke his word anywhere. And from all these curses, 
threatenings, warnings, what an awful harvest the lost soul 
must finally gather, and how much even the saved will lose 
by disobedience. 

Sin brings death, natural, the separation of soul and 
body, spiritual, the separation of the soul from God, and if 
natural death overtakes us in spiritual death, then that be- 
comes eternal, or the "second death." The sinner is under 
condemnation now, the sentence of eternal death only stayed 



60 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

a little, to give him God's one and only chance to escape. 

1. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The 
son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither 
shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. — 
Ezek. 18:20. 

Death. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of 

God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
—Rom. 6:23. 

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth 
forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth 
forth death. — Jas. 1:15. 

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in 
your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye 
shall die in your sins. — John 8:24. 

2. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and 
all the nations that forget God. — Ps.9:17. 

HelL Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and 

brimstone, and a horrible tempest: this shall be 
the portion of their cup. — Ps. 11:6. 

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to 
recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 
and to you who are troubled rest with us, when 
the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven 
with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking 
vengeance on them that know not God, and that 
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 
2Thess. 1:6-8. 
Solemn 3. Because I have called, and ye refused; I 

warning. have stretched out my hand, and no man regard- 
ed; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and 
would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at 
your calamity; I will mock when your fear 
cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and 
your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when 
distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then 
shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; 
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find 
me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not 
choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of 
my counsel: they despised all of my reproof. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 61 

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own 

way, and be filled with their own devices. — Prov., 

1:24-31. 
Sentence 4. He that beiieveth on him is not condemned: 

suspended, but he that beiieveth not is condemned already, 

because he hath not believed in the name of 

the only begotten Son of God. — John 3:18. 
Abiding He that beiieveth on the Son hath everlasting? 

wrath. life: and he that beiieveth not the Son shall not 

see life; but the vrrath of God abideth on him. — 

Jno. 3:36. 

16. ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. 

While this teaching is one of the saddest, most awful in 
the word of God, it is yet revealed very clearly and shows 
God's love for us in faithfully warning us. If we saw a 
blind man walking toward a precipice, or knew of people 
asleep in a burning house, would we warn them, or let them 
walk on, sleep on to their death? What would love do? 
Well, God sees our danger, if we do not, and cries aloud on 
every page of his Word to warn us. 

Eternal punishment is possible, reasonable and Scriptural, 
If men can live without God here, they can in eternity, al- 
though it will be much worse there, for they will not have 
the things of the world to engage their attention and make 
them forget their misery. Men can endure as long as Satan, 
Anti Christ and the false prophet, a decilion years as well as 
one, though it is unspeakably awful to contemplate. This 
punishment follows from the nature of sin. In sinning we 
transgress the infinitely holy law of the infinitely holy God, 
and so our sin is an infinite one, and must have an infinite 
penalty. The only way that man can pay this infinite debt 
of sin, being finite himself, is by infinite suffering, which 
will require all of eternity. Dr. Joseph Cook has put it right 
in his poem: 

"Endless sin means endless woe; 

Into endless sin I go, 

If my soul from reason rent. 

Takes from sin its final bent." : 



62 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Henry Ward Beecher, who could not be charged with 
being specially prejudiced in favor of this teaching, has yet 
left this serious, deliberate testimony concerning it: 

"I do not accept the doctrine of eternal punishment be- 
cause I delight in it. I would cast in doubts, if I could, until 
I had filled hell up to the brim. I would destroy all faith 
in it; but that would do me no good; I could not destroy the 
thing. * * * I cannot alter the stern fact. The exposition 
of future punishment in God's Word is not to be regarded as a 
threat, but as a merciful declaration. If, in the ocean of life, 
over which we are bound to eternity, there are these rocks 
and shoals, it is not cruelty to chart them down; it is an emi- 
nent and prominent mercy." See the Scripturalness charted 
in this study. 

Promised. 1. And I will punish the world for their evil, 

and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause 
the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay 
low the haughtiness of the terrible. — Is. 13:11. 

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not 
be unpunished.— Prov. 11:21. 
Not all The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly 

here. out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto 

the day of judgment to be punished.— 2 Pet. 2:9. 
Ever- Who shall be punished with everlasting de- 

lasting, struction from the presence of the Lord, and from 

the glory of his Power. — 2 Thess. 1 :9. 

Hereafter. 2. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall 

fear: fear him, which after he hath killed hath 

power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, fear 

him. — Luke 12:5. 

"Fire un- Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thor- 

quench oughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat 

able." into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with 

fire unquenchable. — Luke 3:17. 
♦'Everlast- Then shall he say also unto them on the left 

ing fire." hand, depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting 
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. — Matt. 
25:41. 

And these shall go away into everlasting pun- 
ishment: but the righteous into life eternal. — 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



63 



Devil and 

false 

prophet. 



All wicked. 



No 

future 

probation. 



The 

second, or 
eternal 

death. 



Matt. 25:46. 

3. And the devil that deceived them was cast 
into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the 
beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tor- 
mented day and night forever and ever. — Rev. 
20:10. 

And whosoever was not found written in the 
book of life was cast into the lake of fire. — Rev. 
20:15. 

For without are dogs, and socerers, and 
whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, 
and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. — Rev. 
22:15. 

4. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in 
torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and 
Lazarus in his bosom. — Luke 16:23. 

And besides all this, between us and you there 
is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would 
pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they 
pass to us, that would come from thence. — Luke 
16:26. 

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and 
he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. — Rev. 
22:11. 

If the tree fall toward the south, or toward 
the north, in the place where the tree falleth, 
there it shall be. — Eccl. 11:3. 

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be 
forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything 
taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should 
fear before him. — Eccl. 3:14. 

5. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the 
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, 
and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall 
have their part in the lake which burneth with 
fire and brimstone: which is the second death. — 
Rev. 21:8. 



64 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

17. GOD'S JUSTICE AND MERCY. 

We like to hear and think of God's love and mercy, but 
most men shrink from the thought of His justice, and yet 
God's justice is the very foundation of the world's hope. If 
God were not just there would be no security for anyone any- 
where. The Bible not only reveals God's justice and wrath, 
but shows how he can be just and yet save sinners and make 
them to be just. God's justice is the fear of sinners but the 
hope of saints. 

By the awful words wrath, anger, vengeance spoken of 
God, we are not to understand what we would of the same 
words spoken of man. God has no such mean feelings in His 
nature as man has. What do these words mean, then? This 
text will explain: "Justice and judgment are the habitation 
of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face." 
God is just and must in justice punish the sinner, yet he 
wants _ to save all, proclaims his mercy and his truth, that 
every lost one may be saved by it, "mercy rejoiceth against 
judgment." If the sinner will not have the mercy and truth 
that God is now having proclaimed before his face in the 
earth, then there is nothing for him but the judgment of the 
"great white throne," and God's justice there administered 
will have all in it that we can think of anger, wrath, ven- 
geance, without any of those feelings being in God's heart. 
He knew that man in his sin could not understand infinite 
justice, so he used these words, that man has felt both ways 
and understands, to express the effect of justice upon man. 
Let us not, however, think any less seriously of these awful 
words, for justice will include all that tJiey mean to us, and 
justice we cannot escape if we wait until the "great day of 
wrath" is come. While the "everlasting fire" was not pre- 
pared for man, but for the "devil and his angels," yet if man 
believes and obeys, follows the devil, he will have, and can 
only expect to share, the same lot and. portion. A multitude 
of "mercy texts" can be found. Make them yours. 
"Angry." 1. God judgeth the righteous, and God is g,n- 

gry with the wicked every day. — Ps. 7:11. 
"Wen- He put on the garments of vengeance for 



THE BIBLE COMPANION , 65 

geance." clothing. .* * According to their deeds, accord- 
ingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, re- 
compense to his enemies. — Is. 59:17,18. 

"Fire." For our God is a consuming fire. — Heb. 12:29. 

Wrath I For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven 

against ail ungodliness and unrighteousness of 
men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.— 
Rom. 1:18. 

Wrath! But, after thy hardness and impenitent heart 

treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day 
of wrath and revelation of the righteous judg- 
ment of God. — Rom. 2:5. 

Wrath! And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on 

us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth 
on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 
for the great day of his wrath is come; and who 
shall be able to stand?— Rev. 6:16,17. 

Judgment. 2. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all 

his ways are judgment: a God of truth without in- 
iquity, just and right is he. — Deut. 32:4. 

Founda- Justice and judgment are the habitation of 

tion. thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy 

face.— Ps. 89:14. 

Just. Wherefore the law is holy, and the command- 

ment holy, and just, and good. — Rom. 7:12. 

Justifier. To declare, I say at this time his righteous- 

ness: that he might be just, and the justifier of 
him which believeth in Jesus. — Rom. 3:26. 

Judgment. For he shall have judgment without mercy, 

that showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth 
against judgment. — J as. 2:13. 

Mercy! 3. For the Lord is good; his mercy is ever- 

lasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. 
— Ps. 100:5. 

Mercy! ' And showing mercy unto thousands of them 

that love me and keep my commandments. — 
Deut. 5:10. 

Mercy! Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne 

of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in time of need. — Heb. 4:16. 



66 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Mercy! He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: 

but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall 

have mercy. — Prov. 28:13. 
Mercy! For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; 

and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call 

upon thee. — Ps. 86:5. 
Forgive- To the Lord our God belong mercies and for- 

ness. giveness, though we have rebelled against him. — 

Dan. 9:9. 
Just to If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 

forgive. to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all 

unrighteousness. — 1 J no. 1:9. 
"MET!" Mercy and truth (or justice) are met together; 

righteousness and peace have kissed each other. — 

Ps. 85:10. 

18. THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. 

In our last study we got a glimpse of justice and mercy 
coming together, meeting, in the forgiveness of sin, and yet 
in this we are to study the sad certainty of a sin that finds 
no pardon. That there is such a sin, for which we may not 
even pray, for which it would do no good to pray, for which 
we cannot pray, if we remember that real prayer is the work 
of the Holy Spirit, and that God will not so contradict him- 
self, the Scripture verses of this study will clearly reveal. 

Men have differed slightly in regard to what constitutes 
this sin, yet most agree as to the unspeakable sadness of it, 
the present possibility and occasional if not frequent com- 
mittal of it. From the earliest times this sin has been held 
to be the wilful resistance of the Holy Spirit by the sinner 
until the Spirit leaves him forever. Instances of such ex- 
perience are numerous, of men and women who were con- 
scious that they had committed this sin, and the fullest 
teaching of the Word agrees with this view. We all remem- 
ber Bunyan's picture of the man in the iron cage. 

A more modern view is that it consists in attributing 
to the devil the work of the Holy Spirit, as the scribes were 
doing. But while welcoming all earnest new thought, we need 
to remember that not all new views are true views. A hun- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 67 

dred things in modern science, held a little while ago as abso- 
lute facts, are now abandoned, held by no one. And is it not 
quite as certain that much of the new theological thought 
will pass in the same way? The old light is good to follow 
and the old tried paths safe to walk in. The error of this 
later view of this sin is in mistaking a symptom for the dis- 
ease itself, confining the sin to that day and time, and so fail- 
ing to recognize and warn all of the awful possibility of it 
now. 

This sin of resisting or grieving the Holy Spirit is here 
called blasphemy, and is unpardonable, not because it is 
worse in its nature than the same against the Father or the 
Son, but because when the Holy Spirit is grieved away and 
leaves a man forever, there is nothing to make him turn to 
God, he can have no desire to, and is doomed here and now. 
Many have been conscious of committing this sin and have 
died without desire or hope. Others have been in fear and 
distress about it, lest they had committed it. But while there 
is this concern there is hope, but no time to lose. May God 
help all now. 

The sin; 1. Wherefore I say unto you. All manner of 

resisting sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: 
the but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall 

not be forgiven unto men. — Matt. 12:31, 
Holy Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost. — Acts 

Spirit. 7:51. 

And the Lord said. My Spirit shall not always 
strive with man. — Gen. 6:3. 
"Let Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. — 

alone." Hos. 4:17. 

Convicted 2. For it is impossible for those who were 

but once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly 

not gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 

converted, and have tasted the good word of God, and the 
powers of the world to come, if they shall fall 
away, to renew them again unto repentance; see- 
ing they crucify to themselves the Son of God 
afresh, and put him to an open shame. — Heb. 
6:4-6. 
Parallel 3. For if we sin wilfully after that we have 



68 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



with 
the 
above. 



Wilfully 
blind. 



Cannot 
pray for 
this sin. 



received the knowledge of the truth, there remain- 
eth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fear- 
ful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, 
which shall devour the adversaries. He that de- 
spised Moses' law died without mercy under two 
or three witnesses: of how much sorer punish- 
ment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who 
hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and 
hath counted the blood of the covenant where- 
with he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath 
done despite unto the Spirit of grace? — Heb. 
10:26-29. 

4. They are of those that rebel against the 
light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide 
in the paths thereof. — Job. 24:13. 

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the 
blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall 
fall into the ditch.— IViatt. 15:14. 

5. If any man see his brother sin a sin which 
is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give 
him life for them that sin not unto death. There 
is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall 
pray for it. — 1 Jno, 5:16. (Every time we feel 
that we ought to be a Christian but put it off, we 
are in danger of committing "The Unpardonable 
Sin.") 



19. THE WAY OF SALVATION. 



Man has had and still has a thousand ways of salvation, 
but they all fall far short of attaining the object desired. 
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end 
thereof is death." God has one and only one way of salva- 
tion for adults, and that is revealed in his Word so plainly, 
that the "wayfaring man though a fool may not err therein." 
In this study this way is made plain in seven steps, each of 
which may be given more in detail farther on for a fuller 
understanding. These seven steps might be reduced to three, 
prayer, surrender, faith; and again these three might be 
condensed into one, faith, when all the rest is understood, 



THE BIBLE COMPANION (.9 

so that the song we used to sing, "Only a step to Jesus, Then 
why not take it now?" is true. But taking these seven steps 
in their connection will give us a clearer view of this all 
important subject. . 

Two elements are essential for the salvation of any soul, 
the Word of God and the Spirit of God, and both of these 
are already in the world as we have already seen. A third 
element is almost as necessary, a living voice to proclaim 
the Word in the power of the Spirit, "It pleased God by the 
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." The 
Word reveals God's way and the Spirit convinces us of our 
need, and enables us to forsake our own way and come into 
God's way. May this study be used to the salvation and 
edification of many. 

I. Repent. 
Word of And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the king- 

Jesus, dom of heaven is at hand: repent ye, and believe 

the gospel. — Mark 1:15. 
Absolute I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall 

necessity, all lilvewise perish. — Luke 13:3. 
What it is. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the un- 

righteous man his thoughts: and let him return 
unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; 
and to our God, for he Vvill abundantly pardon. — 
Is. 55:7. 

11. Confession. 
Our sins to I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine 
iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my 
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest 
the iniquity of my sin.— Fs. 32:5. 
God. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and jusi 

to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
all unrighteousness. — 1 Jno. 1:9. 
Christ Whosoever therefore shall confess me before 

before the men, him will I confess also before my Father 
world, which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny 

me before men, him will I also deny before my 
Father which is in heaven. — Matt. 10:32,33. 



70 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Crying to 
God as a 
drowning 
man. 

Praying. 



Seei<ing. 



The very 
heart 
of the 
matter. 



Faith 
saves. 



Frees 
from law. 
Confess 

and 
believe. 

Merit of 
faith. 

Peace. 



III. Asl<, Pray, Seek. 

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon 
him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will 
fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also 
will hear their cry, and will save them. — Ps. 
145:18,19. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward 
you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not 
of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall 
ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto 
me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall 
seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for 
me with all your heart. — Jer. 29:11-13. 
IV. Surrender. 

And he said to them all, if any man will come 
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his 
cross daily, and follow me. * * No man, having 
put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit 
for the kingdom of God. — Lu. 9:23,62. 
V. Believe. 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.— 
Acts 16:13. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that heareth 
my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath 
everlasting life, and shall not come unto con- 
demnation; but is passed from death unto life. — 
Jno„ 5:24. 

For Christ is the end of the law for righteous- 
ness to every one that believeth. — Rom. 10:4. 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the 
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that 
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be 
saved. — Rom. 10:9. 

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on 
him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is count- 
ed for righteousness.— Rom. 4:5. 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have 
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 
Rom. 5:1. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



71 



Positive. 
Myste- 
rious. 



Yet true. 



Partial 
(Fullness 
later.) 

The Spirit 
Witness. 



Lacking 
this, all 
else vain. 



VI. Born Again. 

Ye must be born again. — J no. 3:7. 

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou 
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell 
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is 
e^ery one that is born of the Spirit. — J no. 3:8. 

Not by works of righteousness which we have 
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by 
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the 
Holy Ghost.— Titus 3:5. 

VII. Holy Spirit Given. 

(But this spake he of the Spirit which they 
that believe on him should receive: for the Holy 
Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was 
not yet glorified.) — Jno. 7:39. 

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage 
again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of 
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The 
Spirt himself beareth witness with our spirit, that 
we are the children of God. — Rom. 8:15, 16. 

So then they that are in the flesh cannot 
please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in 
the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in 
you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of 
Christ, he is none of his. — Rom. 8:8,9. 



20. MAN'S FREE AGENCY. 



A mighty war of words in the past has been waged in 
the world over the subjects of this study and the following 
one, and we are not sure that the last word has been said 
yet, though the noise of the battle has somewhat died away 
in these later times. Much of the trouble might have been 
avoided if the tendency of man to run to extremes had been 
noted and properly considered. Both doctrines are true and 
not in opposition when rightly understood. The extreme 
emphasis placed upon each doctrine by its over zealous advo- 
cates to the practical exclusion if not annihilation of the 



72 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

opposite doctrine, has caused the conflict. If all had been 
as anxious to reconcile the two doctrines as to ridicule or 
destroy the other, it. would have been much better for 
the church and for the world. A present day parallel is 
the difference of opinion about preaching the love and 
mercy of God, or his law and its violation, sin, and the con- 
sequent wrath of God. ^ither extreme is wrong. Both sides 
are in the Word of God and both are to be preached, and 
precisely the same of these two doctrines. The two doctrines 
have their limitations. God cannot do wrong and man cannot 
be God of himself. 

God has created man with a mind and heart and will of 
his own, and recognizes his power to choose the right, in 
calling him to make such choice. If he could not will or 
choose he w^ould not be responsible, and what would be the 
meaning of all the provision, precepts, invitations and exhorta- 
tions of the gospel, if man was not free to accept or reject 
them. Even the tears of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem were 
in vain, and it should have been written not, "and ye would 
not," but, "and ye could not." Christ "is the propitiation for 
our sins: and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of 
the whole world." The gospel feast is prepared and the in- 
vitation is to all. God will not so tantalize a poor worm by 
offering him something he cannot accept. Man's environ- 
ment, nature, disposition and temperament may incline him 
the wrong way, but God has mightier inducements to offer 
to persuade him into the right way. Man does will to do 
wrong; by the help of God he could will to do right. But it 
seems like wasting words. Look at and consider well the 
Scriptures in this study. 

I, The Full Provision. 
For all. And he is the propitiation for our sins; and 

not for ours only, but also for the sins of the 

whole world. — ^^1 John 2:2. 
"Whoso- And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the 

ever." wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted 

up; that whosoever believeth in him should not 

perish but have eternal life. — John 3:14, 15. 
"draw all." And 1, if I be lifted up from the earth, will 

draw all men unto me. — John 12:32. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



il. Unlimited Invitation, 

"Let him." In the. last da3% that great day of the feast, 

Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, 
let him come unto me, and drink. — John 7:37. 

Tesch all. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. — Matt. 

28:19. 

Invite all. And sent his servant at. suppertime to say to 

them that weie bidden. Come; for all things are 
now ready. — Luke 14:17. 

"Whcso^ And the Spirit and the Iride say, Come. And 

ever." let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that 

is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take 

the water of life freely. "Come unto me." — Rev. 

22:17. 

III. Exhorted and Commandedo 

All And the times of this ignorance God winked 

command- at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to 
ed. repent. — Acts 17:30. 

"Look." Lo"Gk unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of 

the earth.— Is. 45:22. 

Seek ye the Lprd while he may be found, call 
ye upon him while he is near. — Is. 55:6. 

"Turn." Say unto them, As I live,.saith the Lord God, 

I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but 
that the v.'icked turn from his way and live: turn 
ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye 
die?— Ezek. 23:1L 

"Repent." 1 his is the work of God, that ye believe on 

"Believe." him vrhom he hath sent. "Repent ye and be- 
lieve." — John 6:29. 

IV. The Rejection. 

"Light And this is the condemnation, that light is 

rejected." come into the world, and men loved darkness 
rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 
—John 3:19. 

'■'Will And ye will not come to me, that ye might 

not." have life. — John 5:40. 

"Would And sent forth his servants to call them that 

not." were bidden to the vredding: and they would not 

come. — Matt. 22:3. 



74 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

"Would O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the 

not," prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto 

not thee, how often would I have gathered thy chil- 

"Could dren together, even as a hen gathereth her chick- 

not." ens under her wings, and ye would not! — Matt. 

23:37. 
Fate of For I say unto you, that none of those men 

which were bidden shall taste of my supper. — 
Luke 14:24. 
rejectors. But those my enemies, which would not that I 

should reign over them, bring hither, and slay 
them before me. — Luke 19:27. 

(No such responsibility if man is not free and 
cannot accept.) 

21. GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY IN ELECTION. 

Man's freedom and God's sovereignty are not seriously 
questioned by any except in the spiritual realm of man's 
relation to God in the matter of his salvation. But is it 
reasonable to understand that man has almost unlimited 
freedom in material affairs, the multitude of little things that 
are but for a moment, and is absolutely helpless, a mere au- 
tomaton in the infinitely greater things pertaining to his 
eternal existence, his everlasting happiness or woe? Such a 
thought could only come from an unscriptural view of God's 
sovereignty. God himself has no such extreme view or 
teaching in his Word. God does not save or "elect" some 
and destroy or "reprobate" others in any absolute or arbi- 
trary sense, not considering in the least their will or choice 
in the matter either way. 

Election is a Bible doctrine, and grows out of God's fore- 
knowledge, as the Apostle Peter says, "Elect according to 
the foreknowledge of God." God knew who, acting with per- 
fect freedom of their own, would yield to the persuasions of 
the gospel, the truth of God by the power of the Spirit, choose 
the better part and be saved, and all the others who would 
choose the other way and be lost. Those that yield are 
"elected;" the others "reprobated." Yet this is not arbitrary 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 75 

on God's part. The soul, any soul, determines its election 
or reprobation by the choice it makes. The decree of elec- 
tion of God does not compel any soul one way or the other; 
it is perfectly free in its choice. If the choice were different, 
the election would be different. Election is like prophecy. 
Judas was not compelled to betray his Lord because it was 
prophesied that he would. But God knowing that Judas, 
acting according to the counsel and pleasure of his own will 
would so betray his Master, prophesied it of him. Election 
"comprehends all the means in connection with the end." 
Souls are elected or saved through the use of means and ac- 
ceptance of the provisions of the gospel, and reprobated or 
lost through the wilful rejection of the same. It cannot be 
said of souls that "some are born to be saved and others to 
be lost whether they will or not;" that "some cannot be lost 
no matter what they do, and others cannot be saved even 
if they wanted to be." Such a thought is a snare of the 
wicked one. It is true that many will be saved and many 
others will be lost, but each soul loses or saves itself ac- 
cording to the choice it makes. The responsibility lies with 
the individual soul. God has done and is doing all he can 
to save every one. 

If in the study of these two doctrines there should be 
"some things hard to be understood," we shall find a full and 
sufficient explanation by remembering two things: 1. God 
does not directly harden hearts or destroy souls, Pharoah, 
Judas, the antediluvians or the wicked today. He does harden 
souls indirectly by having his truth proclaimed by Moses, 
the prophets and all his ministers. Souls harden and destroy 
themselves directly by rejecting the truth. 2. God saves by 
the use of means, as we have already seen. The gospel is a 
"savor of life unto life or of death unto death," a savor of 
life to all who accept it, of death to all who reject it. 

Man cannot save himself. God cannot save man without 
man's consent. Here the two doctrines come together in har- 
mony. God and man each has a part to do. Man has natur- 
ally no desire for God, no willingness to take God's way, but 
God comes to man by the persuasions of his Word and the 
power of his Spirit and makes him willing. What man can- 
not do for himself, God enables him to do. This grace is not 



76 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

irresistable, however. jMan can yield, surrender, say "yes" 
to God and be saved, or he can resist, say "no," stay in his 
sin and be lost forever. God recognizes the sovereignty of 
man in determining his own destiny. In the realm of the 
soul's choice man is an absolute monarch, for a moment, but 
what an infinitely sad thing, if, in the exercise of this brief 
sovereignty, he makes his choice against God, his best friend, 
and the best interests of his soul for tinie and eternity. God 
help everyone to choose right. 

The Spirit. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God 

the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit. 
~1 Pet. 1:2. 
The truth. God hath from the beginning chosen you to 

salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and 
belief of the truth.— 2 Thess. 2: 13. 
Ey Word Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of 

and Spirit. God. For our gospel came not unto you in word 
only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, 
and in much assurance. — 1 Thess. 1:4,5. 
"Received." For who maketh thee to differ from another? 
No place and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 
for pride Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, 
or boasting, as if thou hadst not received it? — 1 Cor. 4:7. 
God .Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he 

for also called; and whom he called, them he also 

man. justified: and whom he justified, them he also 

glorified. What shall w^e then say to these 
things? If God be for us who can be against us? 
— Rom. 8:30, 31. 
Man. . Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence 

for to make your calling and election sure: for if ye 

God. do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an 

entrance shall be administered unto you abund- 
antly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord 
and Savior Jesus Christ.— 2 Pet. 1 : 10, 11. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 77 



22. SATAN. 



Man has a multitude of foes, but a trinity of supreme 
enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, and the last is 
hardly the lea&t. In point of time, any way, he was the first. 
In the world, (and also in the church in many quarters) there 
is today considerable skepticism concerning this subject. 
But when we come to the Word, it is perfectly clear, and 
leaves no shadow of doubt about the devil. The teaching 
that denies the personality of Satan is outside of the Bible, 
and any method of handling the Bible to figure Satan out of 
it, would leave little or nothing that is vital in it; a little 
poetry and history and a few moral precepts sprinkled here 
and there, no miracles, no prophecies, nothing supernatural, 
no God, no Christ, no Holy Spirit. The personality and work 
of the triune God is revealed no more clearly in the Word 
than the personality and work of Satan. Destroy or weaken 
faith in the one and you destroy and weaken faith in the 
other, and while men are laughing and joking about the 
devil, he is laughing at them. Disbelief in a devil is one 
form of infidelity. Satan was the first teacher of infidelity 
in the world, but not the last one. He is still teaching it, and 
glad to have many human helpers. He taught our first par- 
ents to disbelieve God and has been teaching all the world 
since. 

The Bible clearly reveals the origin of Satan, that he 
was once a pure angel of light in heaven, but because of his 
proud rebellion against God, was cast out with a great host 
of his followers, by the Son of God. This is not Milton's 
poem, but God's Word. (See 1 Tim. 2:6; Isa. 14:13; Luke 
10:18; Rev. 20:10; 2 Pet. 2:4). By these Scriptures we see 
also his final fate. The following study gives a view of some 
of his work now in the world. He tempted our first parents 
to fall in the same way he had fallen, through pride, aspiring 
to be gods, tie knew by experience how it worked, and he 
has caused many to fall in the same way since. 
Tries Job. Now there was a day when the sons of God 

came to present themselves before the Lord, and 
Satan came also among them. And the Lord said 



78 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



urxto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan 
answered the Lord, and said. From going to and 
fro in the earth, and from walking up and down 
in it. * * * And the Lord said unto Satan, Be 
hold, all that he hath is in thy power. — Job 
1:6,7,12. 
The And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 

Accuser. now is come salvation, and strength, and the 
kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; 
for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, 
which accused them before our God day and 
night. — Rev. 12:10. 
Prince Now is the judgment of this world: now shall 

and the prince of this world be cast out. — Jno. 12:31. 

God of this In whom the god of this world hath blinded 
world. the minds of them which believe not, lest the 

light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the 
image of God, should shine unto them. — 2 Cor. 4:4. 
"Roaring Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary 

lion." the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seek- 

ing whom he may devour. — 1 Pet. 5:8. 
Fatlier Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts 

of lies of your father ye will do: he was a murderer 

and from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, 

because there is no truth in him. When he 
speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is 
a liar and the father of it. — Jno. 8:44. 
Induces But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled 

lying. thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep 

back part of the price of the land? — Acts 5: 3. 
Tempts. And when the devil had ended all of the temp- 

tation, he departed from him for a season. — 
—Luke 4:13. 
Takes And these are they by the wayside, where the 

away tlie word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan 
Word. cometh immediately, and taketh away the word 

that was sown in their hearts. — Mark 4:15. 
Hinders. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even 

I Paul, once and again: but Satan hindered us. — 
1 Thess. 2:18. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 79 

Binds. And ought not this woman, being a daughter 

of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these 

eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the 

Sabbath day?— Luke 13:16. 
In Judas, Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed 

Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. — 

Luke 22:3. 
and all He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the 

unsaved devil sinneth from the beginning. For this pur- 
sinners, pose the Son of God was manifested, that he 

might destroy the works of the devil. — 1 J no. 3:8. 
Not ignor- Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for 

ant of. we are not ignorant of his devices. — 2 Cor. 2:11. 

Oppose him. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may 

be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. — 

Eph. 6:11. 
Resist him. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist 

the devil, and he will flee from you. — James 4:7. 

23. OUR SUBSTITUTE. 

From different figures given in the Bible a number of 
theories concerning the atonement, more or less differing 
from each other, have been evolved, and in support of these 
theories some more word battles have been fought, not al- 
ways in the most Christ like spirit. It seems strange on 
such a serious, solemnly important subject, to hear the advo- 
cates of one theory, ministers of the gospel, hold up to scorn 
and ridicule other theories held by men as earnest and de- 
vout, and scholarly, if not more so than themselves. Such a 
way of speaking of others always acts against the one so 
speaking, in the minds of all right thinking people. Here 
again if there were a more general disposition to make 
peace, to harmonize conflicting, or apparently conflicting 
views, how much better it would be for the church and the 
world. We need an at-one-ment of the theories of the 
atonement. Some false, fundamentally false and dangerous 
theories, have been held in the past, and some modern ones 
as bad or worse have been advanced. In the effort to destroy 
the old, tried and orthodox theories, some would take away 



80 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

the very heart of the atonement, and leave nothing but a 
mist in its place,' leave us to say like Mary weeping, "They 
have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have 
laid him." 

In each of the four or five leading theories of the atone- 
ment held by the most orthodox and devout believers in the 
past, and held now very generally by evangelical Christians, 
there is an element of truth, in essence they are one, at 
heart they are all true. Mistakes may have been made in 
over-emphasizing one or the other side or phase of the truth. 
We are all in danger of doing that always. To take one fig- 
ure representing the atonement and work it out in much de- 
tail, not considering other figures, is to make more of it than 
God has made in his Word, giving us a sompwhnt exagger- 
ated or distorted view. In this way the beautiful parables 
of our Lord are overdone, and a meaning often put into them 
that the Lord never intended. We need more than a one- 
sided view of any question, and especially a great question 
like this. We all remember the story of the seven blind 
men and the elephant. To these seven men the elephant 
was like seven entirely different things, a tree, a rope, a fan, 
a spear, a wall, etc., according to the part of the animal that 
each one came in contact with. They had seven entirely dif- 
ferent and conflicting views, and yet it was the same elephant! 

There is a sense in which the old "ransom theory" is 
true; the word plainly teaches it, "His life a ransom for 
many," "Gave himself a ransom for all." The later "debt 
theory" is also true, for the "wages of sin is death." Man 
owed a debt he could not pay, and Jesus paid it for him, 
"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us," "Christ 
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." The still later 
"substitution theory" is true, as will appear plainly in this 
study. Man had sinned. The penalty was death. Christ 
came and died in our place, became my sacrifice, my sub- 
stitute, my sin-bearer, "Who his own self bore our sins in 
his own body on the tree," "Christ also suffered for us." 
Some later theories are also true as far as they go. Jesus 
sustained the honor of the divine government in fulfilling the 
law in his life and answering the demands of justice in dying 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 81 

for the transgression of the law, and has set us a wonderful 
example of suffering for others. Through all runs the strong 
line of God's justice and over all shines the infinite love of 
God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Man had sinned. He was hopelessly lost. He must for- 
ever die. Jesus came, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a 
sinless life, and died a vicarious death, "the just for the 
unjust." Two things man must do, repent and believe. Two 
things God has promised to do contained in the doctrines 
of "substitution" and "imputation." When man repents and 
believes, God has promised to accept of Christ's death in- 
stead of man's death, to lay man's sin upon Jesus and to put 
Christ's perfect life upon man, a wonderful exchange. We 
need not quibble about this or doubt it, for it is simply the 
promise of God, and all we have to do is to accept it. Man 
cannot repent and believe himself, but the Father has done 
his part, the Son has done his part, and the Holy Spirit is 
now doing his part. If man wants to, the Holy Spirit will 
enable him to repent and believe on Christ as his "all in all." 
We may not understand it all; we do not have to. But we 
can see that Christ with infinite love has taken our awful 
place, died for us, and now waits to save and give us a place 
with himself. 

It is not only the theology of the old hymn, but of the 
"Old Book," that, 

"My hope is built on nothing less 
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness." 

Mr. Talmage tells the following affecting story: 

"A soldier, worn out in his country's service, took to the 
violin as a mode of earning a living. He was found in the 
streets of Vienna playing his violin; but after a while his 
hand became feeble and tremulous, and he could no more 
make music. One day, while he sat there weeping, a man 
passed along and said, 'My friend, you are too old and too 
feeble; give me your violin;' and he took the instrument and 
began to discourse most exquisite music, and the people 
gathered around in larger and larger multitudes, and the aged 
man held his hat, and the coin poured in and poured in 
until the hat was full. "Now," said the stranger, "put that 
coin in your pockets." The coin put away, the hat was 



82 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

held again, and the violinist played more sweetly than ever, 
played until some of the people wept and some shouted. 
And again the hat was filled with money. Then the player 
dropped the violin and passed off, and the whisper went, 
'Who is it? who is it?' and some one just entering the crowd 
said, 'Why, that is Bucher, the great violinist, known all 
through the realm; yes, that is the great violinist." The fact 
was, he had just taken that man's place, assumed his poverty, 
endured his disgrace, played his music, earned his living 
and made sacrifice for this poor old man. So the Lord Jesus 
comes down, and he finds us in our spiritual penury, and 
across the strings of his own broken heart He strikes a 
strain of music which wins the attention of earth and heaven. 
He weeps our sorrow. He dies our death, a sacrifice for you." 
The end. For Christ is the end of the law for righteous- 

ness to every one that believeth. — Rom. 10:4. 
Delivered Who was delivered for our offences, and raised 

of God. again for our justification. — Rom. 4:25. 

Suffered For even hereunto were ye called: because 

Himself. Christ also suffered for us. — 1 Pet. 2:21. 
"Bare our Who his own self bare our sins in his own 

sins." body on the tree * * by whose stripes ye were 

healed.— 1 Pet. 2: 24. 
"Wounded." But he was wounded for our transgressions, 
"Bruised." he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastise- 
ment of our peace was upon him; and with his 
stripes we are healed.— Is. 53:5. 

He hath poured out his soul unto death: and 

he was numbered with the transgressors; and he 

bare the sin of many. — Is. 53:12. 

Measure Hereby perceive we the love of God, because 

of love. he laid down his life for us. — 1 Jno. 3:16. 

Basis of And he is the propitiation for our sins. — 

1 Jno. 2:2. 
forgive- For when we were without strength, in due 

ness. time Christ died for the ungodly. — Rom. 5:6. 

Just for For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the 

unjust. just for the unjust. — 1 Pet. 3:18. 

"Deliver Who gave himself for our sins, that he might 

us." deliver us. — Gal 1:4. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 83 

"Redeem Who gave himself for us that he might redeem 

us." us from all iniquity. — Titus 2:14. 

"A Even as the son of man came not to be min- 

ransom." istered unto, but to minister, and to give Ms life a 
ransom for many. — Matt. 20:28. 

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be tes- 
tified in due time. — 1 Tim. 2:6. 
Substitu- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who 

tion: knew no sin: that we might be made the right- 

"madesin," eousness of God in him. — 2 Cor. 5:21. 
"Made a Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the 

curse." law, being made a curse for us: — Gal. 3:13. 

Half of the For I delivered unto you first of all that which 
gospel. I also received, how that Christ died for our sins 

according to the Scriptures. — 1 Cor. 15:3. 

24. THE BLOOD. 

A great deal is said in the Bible about blood, and espe- 
cially in the New Testament about the "blood of Christ." To 
some not understanding the use of the term, it has seemed, 
from the bloody sacrifices almost innumerable of the Old Tes- 
tament and the frequent mention of Christ's blood in the New 
Testament, the great stress laid upon it, to be a matter almost 
revolting. The number of slain birds and beasts must have 
made their places of service almost like slaughter pens, 
some have said. And the blood, blood, blood of the gospels 
and epistles, jars on the sensitive nerves of some. But when 
rightly understood instead of turning from God and his 
Word, we will be filled with horror at our own sin and the 
sin of the world that has caused all this bloodshed. If man 
had/ not sinned there would have been no need of one 
drop of blood shed in sacrifice. All this blood is an object 
lesson showing us what an awful thing sin is in the sight of 
God. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission 
of sin." When seen aright our own sins, causing all this 
bloodshed, even the shedding of our Savior's blood, will seem 
almost unspeakably revolting to us and we will want to turn 
from them to Christ for cleansing in his "precious blood." 

What are we to understand by the term, "blood of Christ?" 



84 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Simply his deatli, his dying for us. From the first the blood 
was considered as the life of man or beast, and the blood 
shed as death. It took the death of Christ to atone for sin. 
To his death, the shedding of his blood on the Cross, every 
animal slain, every drop of blood sprinkled on Jewish altars, 
pointed. His blood as mere blood could not atone or cleanse 
from sin. The sweat blood drops, the blood of scourging and 
of thorn-crowning, could not have atoned or cleansed any 
soul, even though the same blood of the Son of God. It is 
only as his blood represents his life and was shed unto his 
death, that there is atoning and cleansing efficacy in it. 
The blood of Christ, signifying his death, is more often men- 
tioned than his death itself. God in this way choosing to 
have us remember the death of his Son. All the poetry we 
have, and the Christian hymns we sing about the blood are 
in exact accord with the Bible way of putting it. . 
"But when I saw the blood, and looked at him who shed it, 
My right to peace was seen at once, and I with transport read 
it; 

I found myself to God brought nigh. 
And 'Victory' became my cry." 
Note in this study the seven things the blood, or death 
of Christ, will do for us. 

I. Meaning and Use. 
The For the life of the flesh is the blood; and I 

''blood," have given it to you upon the altar to make an 
the "life." atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that 

maketh an atonement for the soul. — Lev. 17:11. 
A sign. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon 

the houses where ye are: and when I see the 
blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall 
not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the 
land of Egypt— Ex. 12:13. 
A type. But into the second went the high priest alone 

once every year, not without blood, which he of- 
fered for himself, and for the errors of the people. 
— Heb. 9:7. 
The law And almost all things are by the law purged 

of. with blood; and without the shedding of blood is 

no remission. — Heb. 9:22. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



85 



Christ's 

by 

faith. 



Redemp- 
tion. 
Perfect 
blood. 



Redeemed. 



Purchased. 



Redeems. 
Cleanses. 

Justifies. 



Makes 
peace. 



For this is my blood of the new testament, 
which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 
— IVIatt. 26:28. 

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I 
say unto you. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son 
of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in 
you. 

Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, 
hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the 
last day. — J no. 6:53,54. 

II. Redemption. 

In whom we have redemption through his 
blood, even the forgiveness of sins. — Col. 1:14. 

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but 
by his own blood he entered in once into the 
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption 
for us.— Heb. 9:12. 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not re- 
deemed with corruptible things, as silver and 
gold, from your vain conversation received by 
tradition from your fathers; but with the precious 
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and 
without spot.— I Pet. 1:18,19. 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to 
all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, 
which he hath purchased with his own blood. — 
Acts 20:28. 

ill. Seven Effects. 

in whom we have redemption through his 
blood.— Eph. 1:7. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the 
light, we have fellowship one with another, and 
the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us 
from all sin. — 1 J no. 1:7. 

Much more then, being now justified by his 
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through 
him. — Rom. 5:9. 

And having made peace through the blood of 
his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto 
himself.— Col. 1:20. 



86 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

"Made But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime 

nigh." were far off are made nigh by the blood of 

Christ— Eph. 2:13. 
Boldness. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter 

into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. — Heb. 10:19. 
Over- And they overcame him by the blood of the 

coming. Lamb. — Rev. 12:11. 

IV. Warning. 
Blood on Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, 

us for shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden 

cleansing under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the 
or for con- blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctl- 
demnation. fied, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto 

the Spirit of Grace?— Heb. 10:29. 

25. UNIVERSALISM. 

Just at this point following the two last studies bearing 
on the atonement a short study on the above subject may be 
most profitable. There are a considerable number who, from 
the view presented in the Bible of God's great love for man 
as revealed in the sacrifice of Christ, are led to conclude 
that he is too good to punish anyone forever, and that all 
are some how going to be finally saved. This may be a very 
comfortable view, but it is a very dangerous one, having no 
Bible foundation. The thought that all will be saved at last 
is one of Satan's best devices for the deceiving and destroy- 
ing of souls. It was the first lie ever told in the world and 
Satan told it to our first parents, "Ye shall not surely die." 
He got them to believe it, to their own ruin and the ruin of 
the race. He has been telling it ever since and persuading 
men and women to believe it and tell it to others to the ruin 
of many. There may be many honest minded good people 
deceived by such erroneous teaching. No one can hold such 
a view for a moment without losing sight entirely of God's 
justice. God is infinitely just as well as infinitely loving, 
and justice demands sin's punishment. On this turn back to 
studies 15, 16 and 17. See also study No. 54. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 87 

The atonement is enough to save all but all will not be 
saved by it. Multitudes will not avail themselves of it. A 
bountiful feast will do no good if men do not partake of it. 
Though invited they will yet starve if they will not eat. Pre- 
cisely so of salvation; it must be accepted. The Scriptures 
referred to in the other studies and the ones following in 
this will certainly make the matter plain to all earnest, sin- 
cere souls. Universalism will not do to risk. As a practical, 
common sense, even business proposition, we ought not to 
trust it; we would not take a similar course in anything else, 
even where only a few dollars were at stake. Of two roads 
or propositions, the known and safe one is always taken 
rather than the unknown and dangerous one. If the universal- 
ist believer is all right, then the orthodox believer cannot 
miss; but if the orthodox believer is right, what will the other 
do? Who will be venturesome enough to risk it? Let us not 
trust Satan and let him and sin deceive and blind us in this 
infinitely important matter. Believe God and take his way. 

An advocate of this false doctrine, preaching at a vil- 
lage where a large congregation had come out to hear some- 
thing new, endeavored to convince his hearers that there 
is no punishment after death. At the close of his sermon he 
informed the people, that if they wished, he would preach 
there again in four weeks. A respectable merchant rose and 
replied, "Sir, if your doctrine is true, we do not need you; 
and if it is false, we do not want you." 

"Unquench- Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thor- 
able." oughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into 

the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with 

unquenchable fire. — Matt. 3:12. 
"Burn Let both grow together until the harvest: and 

them." in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers. 

Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them 

in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat 

into my barn. — Matt. 13:30. 
The wicked The field is the world; the good seed are the 
belong to children of the kingdom; but the tares are the 
Satan. children of the wicked one. — Matt. 13:38. 

Fire not And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is 

quenched, better for thee to enter halt into life, than having 



88 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



two feet to be cast into hell, into tiie fire that 
never shall be quenched: where their worm dietli 
not and. the fire is not quenched. — Mk. 9:45,46. 
Future And the sea gave up the dead which were in 

punish- it; and death and hell delivered up the dead 

menta which were in them: And they were judged every 

fact; man according to their works. And death and 

whether hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the 
we believe second death. And whosoever was not found writ- 
it or not. ten in the book of life was cast into the lake of 
fire.— Rev. 20:13-15. 

26. REPENTANCE. 



Repentance has already been given as the first step in 
the way of salvation. A fuller view of it than could be given 
there may be helpful. Three things are fundamental in sal- 
vation; Repentance, Faith, Regeneration. Here is a trinity 
of essential doctrines, and they can no more be separated 
than the Divine Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Where 
genuine repentance is there will be faith, and where saving 
faith is there will be regeneration. The three go together 
but are always put in this order in the Word. John the Bap- 
tist's message was "repent." The first word of Christ was 
"Repent ye." He sent his disciples out to preach this first 
of all. Peter preached it; Paul preached it. As there is in 
Satan a false trinity, father of the wicked, destroyer, and 
evil spirit, so there is a false repentance, faith and regener- 
ation, a corruption of the genuine, a deceiving shadow of 
them. And as there is great danger of our mistaking the 
shadow for the substance, mere legal for evangelical re- 
pentance, simple intellectual belief for heart faith, and for- 
mal, ceremonial, baptismal regeneration for the new spiritual 
birth, a full study of each of these will follow in its place. 

Repentance is either legal or evangelical. Legal re- 
pentance is sorrow for wrong done, not because it is against 
God, but because of its effect upon ourselves, as in the case 
of a criminal, who is sorry for his wrong because of the 
jail, or the child because of the prospective whipping, or 
Judas, who was sorry he had betrayed Christ. Yet in none 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 89 

of these may there be any general disposition to amend the 
life. Judas went out and hanged himself. 

Evangelical or gospel repentance is more than "quitting 
your meanness." It is and must include that, but if it were 
only that, it might be no more than mere reformation, an- 
other counterfeit of regeneration. Many men have reformed 
who have not been saved. They ought to go together, and 
often do, but they are not essentially the same. Real re- 
pentance toward God includes four things, or the "four C's" 
of repentance: 1. Conviction of sin. 2. Contrition for sin. 
3 Confession of sin. 4. Conversion from sin; conviction 
of sin as against God, contrition or sorrow for sin as 
against God, confession of sin to God, and turning to God 
with full purpose to forsake all sin. All men are convicted 
of sin, have more or less trouble of conscience. Many sor- 
row for it in a way. All men are willing to confess that they 
are sinners. Many have taKen these three steps but go no 
farther and are not saved. But when under the preaching of 
God's truth by the power of the Holy Spirit men are con- 
victed of sin against God, are brought to genuine sorrow for 
sin, often to tears, are ready to confess to God, do confess 
and turn from their sins, saving faith and spiritual birth will 
follow almost if not quite simultaneously. These four steps 
in repentance are fully illustrated in the experience of the 
"prodigal son," Luke 15. Conviction, verse 17, "He came to 
himself." Contrition, ver 19, "No more worthy to be called 
thy son." Confession, verse 18, "Father, I have sinned 
against heaven, and before thee." If he had stopped here he 
would have fallen short, but he went on. Conversion, verse 
20, "And he arose, and came to his father." So may every 
unsaved one who reads this do. 

"A clergyman found some children reading the Douay 
version of the Testament, and noticing a passage in the 
chapter which was translated "Do penance," where the Eng- 
lish version rendered the same word by "Repent," he asked 
them if they knew the difference between penance and re- 
pentance. A short silence followed, and then a little girl 
asked, "Is it not this, your reverence: Judas did penance, 
and went and hanged himself; Peter repented and wept 
bitterly." 



90 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



"Now incline me to repent. 
Let me now my sin lament; 
Now my foul revolt deplore; 
Weep, believe and sin no more." 
To be And that repentance and remission of sins 

preached, should be preached in his name among all na- 
tions, beginning at Jerusalem. — Lu. 24:47. 
Necessity I tell you Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall 

of. all likewise perish. — Lu. 13:5. 

Precedes Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother tres- 

forgive- pass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, 
ness. forgive him. And if he trespass against thee 

seven times in a day, and seven times in a day 
turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt 
forgive him. — Lu. 17:3,4. 
Precedes Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the 

faith, Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward 

yet in- our Lord Jesus Christ. — Acts 20:21. 

separable. For John came unto you in the way of right- 

eousness, and ye believed him not, but the pub- 
licans and harlots believed him: and ye, when ye 
had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might 
believe.— Matt. 21:32. 
John. And saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of 

heaven is at hand. — iVIatt. 3:2. 
Jesus. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the 

kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and be- 
lieve the gospel. — IVIark 1:15. 
Peter. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that 

your sins may be blotted out, when the times of 
refreshing shall come from the presence of the 
Lord.— Acts 3:19. 
Paul. But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and 

at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of 
Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should 
repent and turn to God, and do works meet for 
repentance. — Acts 26:20. 
Miracles And he said, Nay, father Abraham; but if 

not one went unto them from the dead, they will re- 

cause it. pent. And he said unto him. If they hear not 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



91 



Work of 
the Spirit. 

Jesus 
gives it. 

Fruits. 

Wrong re- 
pentance, 
(legal.) 



Right. 



Genuine. 
(Evangel- 
ical.) 
Seven 
penitent 
points. 



Repentance 

for 
Christians 

too. 



Moses and the prophets, neither will they be 
persuaded, though one rose from the dead. — Lu. 
16:30,31. 

And when he is come, he will reprove the 
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judg- 
ment. — J no. 16:8. 

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to 
be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance 
unto Israel and forgiveness of sins. — Acts 5:31. 

Bring forth therefore truits meet for repent- 
ance. — Matt. 3:8. 

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he 
saw that he was condemned, repented himself, 
and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to 
the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned 
in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And 
they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the tem- 
ple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. — 
Matt. 27:3-5. 

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, 
which said unto him. Before the cock crow, thou 
Shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept 
bitterly.— Matt. 26:75. 

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to sal- 
vation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of 
the world worketh death. For behold this self- 
same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, 
what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what 
clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, 
what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what 
zeal, yea what revenge! In all things ye have 
approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. — 
2 Cor. 7:10, 11. 

Remember therefore how thou hast received 
and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If there- 
fore thou Shalt not watch, I will come on thee as 
a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I 
will come upon thee. As many as I love, I re- 



92 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

buke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and re- 
pent. — Rev. 3:3, 19. 

27. CONFESSION. 

We have seen a little of this in "The Way of Salvation," 
a larger view now of "Confession" in its various relations 
will be helpful. Two lines especially should be noted; con- 
fession of our sin to God, and of our Savior before the world. 
The one should be humble and sincere, the other loyal and 
courageous. Confessing our sins to any human being, priest 
or confessor, is not taught in the Word of God. We have one 
great High Priest, and one only, Jesus Christ, the only 
"Mediator between God and man." A sinner refusing to 
confess his sin to God may not be saved, and a Christian 
refusing to confess sin may not know peace. "When I 
kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all 
the day long." As long as David refused to confess he had 
no rest. "Day and night thy hand was heavy upon me." 
But following confession the song changes. "I acknowledged 
my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, 
I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou 
forgavest the iniquity of my sin." We are to confess our 
faults one to another, and freely ask and grant forgiveness 
for such personal wrongs, but even then we must confess 
to God also, for all sin is primarily against him. "Against 
thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy 
sight." 

Can one live a Christian life without public confession 
of Christ? I do not see how one can, when he knows that 
such confession is required and commanded by Christ. For 
any one to deliberately disobey Christ is not an evidence of 
conversion, but rather the opposite. Jesus said, "If a man 
love me, he will keep my commandments." The following 
incident will illustrate: 

In the days of persecution an aged teacher of rhetoric 
was converted to Christianity and came to the pastor, 
whispering in his ear softly these words, "I am a Christian"; 
but the minister answered, "I will not believe it, or count 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 93 

thee so, till I see thee among the Christians in the Churca." 
Tliis, being old, he feared at first to do. But being really 
converted he soon came and said, "Let us go to the Church; 
I will now in earnest be a Christian." And there he made an 
open confession, observing that "As he had openly professed 
rhetoric, which was not essential to salvation, he ought not 
to be afraid to own the Word of God and Christ in the con- 
gregation of the faithful." 

I. Of Sin. 
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will 
not hear me.— Ps. 66:18. 
Right He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; 

Con- but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall 

fession. have mercy. — Prov. 28:13. 

And the publican, standing afar off, would not 

lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote 

upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me 

a sinner. — Lu. 18:13. 

Nehemiah. Both I and my father's house have sinned. 

We have dealt very corruptly against thee. — 

Neh. 1:6,7. 

Solomon's When thy people Israel be smitten down before 

prayer. the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, 

and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy 

name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee 

in this house: then hear thou in heaven, and 

forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring 

them again unto the land which thou gavest unto 

their fathers. (See 2 Chron. 6:36-39; 7:12-14.) 

—1 Kings 8:33,34. 

People We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness, and 

the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned 

against thee. — Jer. 14:^0. 

Con- And the Children of Israel cried unto the 

fessing. Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both 

because we have forsaken our God, and also 

served Baalim. — Jud. 10:10. 

Forgive- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 

ness. to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 



94 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



all unrighteousness. — 1 John. 1:9. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray 
one for another, that ye may be healed. The ef- 
fectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth 
much. — Jas. 5:16. 

II. Confessing Christ. 
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me 
and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful 
generation, of him also shall the Son of man be 
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his 
Father with the holy angels.— Mark 8:38. 

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before 
men, him will I confess also before my Father 
which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny 
me before men, him will I also deny before my 
Father which is in heaven. — Matt. 10:32,33. 

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the 
Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that 
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 
be saved. — Rom. 10:9. 

For it is written. As I live, saith the Lord, 
every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue 
shall confess to God. — Rom. 14:11. 
Humble confession of sin to God on the part of the 
sinner will lead to salvation. Humble confession of sin on 
the part of the Christian will lead to revival. In this Chris- 
tians set the pace for sinners. Conviction and confession 
of sin by the church will lead to the conviction and con- 
version of the world. 



Confess 
ing faults. 



Confess 



Christ. 



Timely. 



Too late. 



28. INVITATIONS. 



If there should be a lingering doubt in any mind about 
God's willingness to save a soul, or of the ability of every 
soul to be saved that will come to God in his way, the care- 
ful reading of these full, gracious and loving invitations of 
God, extended in the broadest and fullest way to every one, 
should drive it away forever. These invitations and hun- 
dreds of others that might be given are like a golden thread 
running all through the Word of God, from the beginning 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



95 



of Genesis to the end of Revelation. The Father, Son and 
Holy Spirit give these invitations, and the church, the bride 
of Christ, takes them up and echoes them again and again. 
Note especiallj' the "seven comes" grouped together, and also 
the glory "come" of the last verse, and remember that only 
those will hear the blessed "come" up there, who respond 
to the gracious "come" down here. 



The wait- 
ing One. 



First call. 



'Now.' 



Three 
times. 



Weary 
one. 
"Ready.' 



Drink." 



Three 
calling. 



The bride 

echoes 

"Come," 



Behold, I st-and at the door, and knock: if any 
man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come 
in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 
— Rev. 3:20. 

Seven Con>es. 

And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and 
all thy house into the Ark; for thee have I seen 
righteous before me in this generation. — Gen. 7:1. 

Come now, and let us reason together, saith 
the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be as white as snow; though they be red 
like crimson, they shall be as wool. — Isa. 1:18. 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the 
waters. And he that hath no money; come ye 
buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk with- 
out money and without price. — Isa. 55:1. 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. — Matt. 11:28. 

And sent his servant at supper time to say to 
them that were bidden, Come; for all things are 
now ready. — Lu. 14:17. 

In the last day, that great day of the feast, 
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, 
let him come unto me, and drink. — J no. 7:37. 

And the Spirit and the bride say. Come. And 
let him that heareth say, Come. And let him 
that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him 
take the water of life freely. — Rev. 22:17. 

And Moses said unto Hobab, * * * We are 
journeying unto the place jof which the Lord said, 
I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will 
do thee good: for the Lord hath spoken good con- 
cerning Israel, — Num. 10:29. 



96 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



"Come," 
"Come." 



Willing to 
receive. 



Able to 
save. 



The 

prodigal. 
All who 
heed the 
first 
"Come," 
will hear 
the last. 



(He saith unto them, Come and see.) 

Philip saith unto him. Come and see. — J no. 
1:39,46. 

And many people shall go and say. Come ye, 
and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to. 
the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach 
us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.— 
Isa. 2:3. 

All that the Father giveth me shall come unto 
me; And him that cometh unto me I will in no 
wise cast out. — J no. 6:37. 

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the 
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he 
ever liveth to make intercession for them. — Heb. 
7:25. 

And he arose, and came to his father. But 
when he was yet a great way off, his father saw 
him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his 
neck, and kissed him. — Lu. 16:20. 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right 
hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world.— Matt. 25:34. 



29. FAITH. 



Of the two conditions of salvation on God's part, substi- 
tution and imputation, we have already studied. Of the two 
on man's part, repentance and faith, given of God, we have 
studied the first. A little more on the last, faith, will give 
us a clearer view of it and lead us into a larger life. 

The hope of the world for salvation finds its root in 
the infinite love of God for the world, in giving his Son to 
die, and the grace of Jesus Christ in willingly dying for man, 
taking his place and suffering in his stead the cruel death 
of the cross. This love is further revealed in God giving us 
his Word, showing us the complete and finished work of 
Christ, and in sending his Spirit to convince us of our sin, 
of our ruined and helpless condition because of sin, and to 
enable us to repent, turn from sin, and believe on Christ that 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 97 

we may be saved. - Saving repentance and faith the soul 
cannot exercise of itself. The soul is naturally as helpless 
as the impotent man at the pool. Jesus said to him, "Rise 
and walk," How could he? It was impossible. But the 
man wanted to be made whole. This Jesus saw and knew, 
and so said to him, "Rise and walk," and with his com- 
mand went the power for the man to rise. It is just so of 
repentance and faith. Jesus says, "Repent ye, and believe 
the gospel." Man in his spiritual impotence cannot do this, 
but the Holy Spirit comes and shows him his need, troubles 
his heart and conscience with a sense of guilt and condemna- 
tion, awakens desire and hope, reveals Jesus as the One he 
needs, and to every such awakened one, really desiring and 
willing to be saved^ there goes with the command to "repent 
and believe" the power to do it. God will do for us what 
we cannot do in and for ourselves. But we must be willing 
to do our part, yield, surrender, exercise the graces of re- 
pentance by turning from sin, and faith by accepting Christ 
and resting in him. No use for any one to say "I can't, I 
can't"; we can; God enables us. The man at the pool didn't 
say "I can't." If he had, he might have lain there until he 
died. To say "I can't" is to deny Christ's power; it is 
looking to self and not looking to Christ at all, and really 
means "I will not." Of course if we don't want to, we cannot; 
we need conviction for sin. The really convicted sinner wants 
to be saved, and if we want to, we can be. 

As there is a counterfeit repentance, legal, that will 
not lead to salvation, so there is a false faith, mere historical 
or intellectual belief, that will not save the soul. Intellectual 
belief every one can exercise without any divine help. But 
the real faith that saves sinners and blesses saints comes 
from God. It is not enough to simply believe that there is a 
God, a Christ, a Holy Spirit, that the Bible is the Word of 
God, that there is a heaven and a hell, "make a profession of 
religion," be baptized and join the church. Many have done 
all this and yet were not saved. All of these are important. 
Some of them go before and some of them follow after saving 
faith, but all of them together do not constitute it. What, 
then, is real or saving faith? It is coming to Christ with a 
sense of our need, our utter helplessness and worthlessness 



98 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

in sin, "In my hand no price I bring," and accepting him 
fully as Redeemer, Prophet, Priest and King, resting our 
whole salvation on his finished work, relying upon the simple 
promise of God to save us for his Son's sake. "Simply to 
thy cross I cling." Such faith will bring peace and rest. It 
is not "trying to be a Christian," it is not "trying to do 
better," it is not clinging or holding on to Christ that saves; 
it is just resting in him. "Once I was clinging, now I'm 
resting." 

The right and wrong receiving of Christ, or trusting in 
him fully, or in ourselves partly, may be illustrated by a 
child drawn up over a precipice by a rope. He can hold on to 
the rope with his hands, or he can have the rope passed 
securely around him. In the first case he would soon become 
wearied, and must let go, fall and be dashed to pieces, no 
matter how hard he might struggle to hold on. The thought 
is distressing. But just so many who "make a start" to be 
Christians fail and fall by "trying to do better," and so 
holding on to Christ. The sentiment of the hymn is doubtful 
that says, "Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine." Better 
to put our hand in his. In the second case the child would 
be safe and secure without a struggle, enjoy his swing or 
perhaps pick flowers from the crevices of the rock and be 
draw up safely. Receive Christ in this way by putting your- 
self in his hand, by feeling that his strong arm is around you, 
that "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are 
the everlasting arms." 

Such faith is true to God's Word, honoring to Christ, and 
will so please God that he will "send forth the Spirit of His 
Son into your heart, whereby you will cry "Abba, Father," 
You will find rest; and such joy, peace and love will be shed 
abroad in your heart that it will be a joy to confess and 
follow Christ; easy to work for him, for it will be the service 
of love, and you will have "blessed assurance," His Spirit 
bearing witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. 

When we are saved, are we done with faith? No, we 
have only begun. The Apostle says, "And now abideth 
faith." We live by faith, we stand by faith, we walk by 
faith, we fight by faith, we overcome by faith. The Christian 
liftj is a faith life from beginning to end. In conversion a 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 99 

new life or existence begins. For this new life we need s, 
new set of organs, not natural but spiritual, new mind, new 
heart, new tongue, mew ears, new eyes, and faith gives all 
of these. Especially is faith the organ of spiritual sight, the 
eye of the soul. As the natural eye sees natural things, so 
through the eye of faith the soul sees spiritual things. Faith 
makes unseen things real, more real than the things that 
are seen, so that we may rise above the seen things which 
are temporal, and live among the unseen things which are 
spiritual and eternal. By faith while we are in, we are not 
of, but above the world. 

All this is not mere rainbow theory, a kind of beautiful 
intellectual mirage, though there is such a false faith as 
that. As there is a theoretical faith that will not save the 
sinner, so there is an airy, intellectual set of notions about 
religious things, that may be mistaken for faith but will not 
bless the Christian. Saving faith takes God at his word 
and does what he says; so real Christian faith "trusts and 
obeys," is a real, practical, living thing. The imitation faith 
in the darkiiess of temptation, trial, adversity and suffering 
breaks down, goes all to pieces, vanishes like mist, while 
true faith under such conditions shines all the brighter, rises 
above the clouds and sings, and sheds a marvelously beau- 
tiful light all around. We all remember the philosopher in 
Dr. Johnson's story of Rasselas, how eloquently he discoursed 
on the beauty of patience and fortitude in affliction, not 
having any sorrow himself, but the next day was over- 
whelmed with inconsolable grief because his only daughter 
was dead. Such teachers, Rasselas was told, "discourse like 
angels, but they live like men." But faith, real faith, will 
stand the test. 

This explains why God sometimes lets his children be 
tried and afflicted, as Job was, who sang, "Though he slay me, 
yet will I trust him," and many others have been similarly 
tried since. God wants the world to see the possibilities of 
faith as seen in the life of his people in poverty, sickness 
and hard suffering service. Blessed are those who have such, 
real faith and can be so used. Trusting God continually 
under all conditions, and doing his will, they are delivered 
from harrassing cares, anxious worrying thought about 



100 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



worldly things. Letting God have his way with them, their 
lives bear rich and abundant fruit, with scarcely an effort, 
the life of Jesus the vine flowing through them. Their char- 
acters grow and expand like the lily in all its beauty, and 
with little more effort, just yielding to spiritual conditions 
and forces as the flower to nature. Faith, real faith, which 
is obedience, will accomplish in us by the higher law of the 
Spirit what we see in the tree and vine and flower, obeying 
the lower law of nature. God grant us such faith to save 
our souls and to enable us to shine for him. 
"My faith looks up to thee. 
Thou Lamb of Calvary; 

Savior divine. 
Now hear me while I pray, 
Take all my sins away; 
Oh, let me from: this day, 
Be wholly thine." 
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, 
the evidence of things not seen. (Makes unseen 
things seem real.) — Heb. 11:1. 

But without faith it is impossible to please 
him: for he that cometh to God must believe that 
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that 
diligently seek him. — Heb. 11:6. 

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest 
well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But 
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without 
works is dead? — J as. 2:19,20. 

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avail- 
eth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which 
worketh by love. — Gal. 5:6. 

But we are not of them, who draw back unto 
perdition: but of them that believe unto the 
saving of the soul.— Heb. 10:39. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and 
that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not 
of works, lest any man should boast. — Eph. 2: 
8,9. 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing 
by the Word of God.— Rom. 10:17. 



Defined. 



Pleases 
God. 



Historical 
not save. 



Faith 



saves. 



Of God, 



by 
hearing. 



THE EEBLE COMPANION 



101 



vrniie re Lave light, believe in the light, that 
ye may be the children of light. — J no. 12:36. 

Com- Jesus answered and said unto them, This is 

manded. the work of God, that ye believe oi: lin- ~"nom 
he hath sent. — J no. 6:29. 

Verily, verily, I say unto yon. He 'ha.i heareth 
my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath 
everlasting life, and shall not come into con- 
demnation: but is passed from death unto life. 
—J no. 5:24. 

Saves. Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth 

on me hath everlasting life. — J no. 6:47. 

Therefore we conclude that a man is justi- 
fied by faith without the deeds of the law. — 
Rom. 3:28. 

And he said to '.'-^ - ens.:: TL7 :ai:':i iia'.b. 
saved thee; go in peace — Lu. 7:50. 

Lost I will therefore 11: 701 i:i reiiei:ibrance, 

though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, 
having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, 
afterward destroyed tie— that believed not. — 
Jude 5. 

So we see that'they could :i:t enter in because 
of unbelief.— Heb. 3:19. 

without. He that believeth and is baptized shall be 

saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. 
— Mk. 16:16. 

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in 
your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye 
shall die in your sins. — J no. 8:24. 

Warning. Let us labor therefore to enter int :h = : :--• 

lest any man fall after the same ex£.-::e :: n- 
beUef— Heb. 4:11. 



102 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



30. CHANGE OF HEART. 

In the last study mention was made of a new life or 
existence beginning with conversion. In the present study 
and the one following we will consider this new life, "Change, 
of heart," or "New birth." The two studies are essentially 
the same, the same truth or experience, but viewed from a 
little different angle or direction, with different Scriptures 
cited. Both are presented in the Word, and so what God 
has given us we must find profit in studying. 

By the term "heart" in the Bible is meant primarily our 
affections, our love. By sin the heart of man has become 
alienated, turned away from God, so that he loves and follows 
after sinful things and hates and turns away from divine and 
holy things. A radical change must take place before man 
can be saved or even be at peace in God's presence or enjoy 
a home in heaven. 

Three elements constitute man's soul: mind, heart, and 
will. In a change of heart there will of necessity be a change 
of the others also, new mind and new will. But as the heart, 
or our affections, largely governs or controls both mind and 
will, the emphasis is laid upon the change of heart. While 
these two studies mean essentially the same thing, it will be 
noticed that change of heart is more the Old Testament 
thought, and regeneration, or new birth, the New Testament 
expression used. Christ putting it in the new form may account 
for Nicodemus not understanding him at first. Man looks on 
the outward appearance, and that may often appear fair. But 
God looking on the heart sees it full of pride, selfishness and 
unbelief and so unfit for heaven. "Appearances are deceiv- 
ing" to us, but God sees through them all. 

In an ancient monastery there is a picture at the end of 
a long gallery. At a distance it appears to be the portrait of 
a holy friar with a large book before him on which he is in- 
tently gazing, with his hands devoutly clasped before him. 
But on a nearer view it is seen that his hands are not clasped 
but are holding a lemon, and that it is not a book before him 
but a big punch bowl into which he is squeezing the juice. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 103 

God takes the nearer view and sees us just as we are and 
not as we appear, and the heart of the best is not right until 
changed by grace. See in this study a picture of the heart's 
natural condition, the change promised and the effect; the 
next study will reveal more as to how the change may be 
effected. 

A white man was once visiting a friendly Indian chief. 
For some time they sat in silence looking into the fire, in- 
dulging their own reflections. At length the silence was 
broken by the friend, who said, "I will tell thee of what I 
have been thinking. I have been thinking of a rule delivered 
by the author of the Christian religion, which, from its excel- 
lence we call the ''Golden Rule." "Stop," said the chief, "don't 
praise it to me, but rather tell me what it is, and let me think 
for myself. I do not wish you to tell me of its excellence; tell 
me what it is." "It is for one man to do to another as he 
would have the other do to him." "That's impossible. It 
cannot be done," the chief immediately replied. But filling 
his pipe and lighting it he walked about the room. In about 
a quarter of an hour he came to his friend with smiling 
countenance, and taking the pipe from his mouth, said, 
"Brother, I have been thoughtful of what you told me. If the 
Great Spirit that made man would give him a new heart, he 
could do as you say, but not else." God help us to see clearly 
this truth. 

I. The Natural Heart. 
Wicked The heart is deceitful above all things, and 

desperately wicked: who can know it? — Jer, 17:9. 
in God's But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on 

sight. his countenance, or on the height of his stature; 

because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth 
not as man seeth; for man looketh on the out- 
ward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the 
heart. — 1 Sam. 16:7. 
Proud. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomina- 

tion to the Lord; though hand join in hand, he 
shall not go unpunished. — Prov. 16:5. 

All the house of Isarel are impu{^nt and hard- 
hearted. — Ezek. 3:7. 



104 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Hard. 



Heart of 
flesh. 



Heart to 
know God. 

''New 

heart" for 

"stony 

heart." 

"Broken 

heart." 

Law in our 

hearts. 



Changed 
will. 

Tender. 



Kind, 
Humble, 
Forbear- 
ing, 
Forgiving. 



And when he had looked round about upon 
them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of 
their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth 
thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand 
was restored whole as the other. — Mark 3:5. 
II. Change Promised. 

And I will give them one heart, and I will put 
a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony 
heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart 
of flesh.— Ezek. 11:19. 

And I will give them a heart to know me, * * * 
for they shall return unto me with their whole 
heart. — Jer. 24:7, 

A new heart also will I give you, and a new 
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away 
the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give 
you a heart of flesh. — Ezek. 36:26. 

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a 
broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite 
spirit— Ps. 34:18. 

I will put my law in their inward parts, and 
write it in their hearts. — Jer. 31:33. 

For as much as ye are manifestly declared to 
be the epistles of Christ ministered by us, written 
not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; 
not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of 
the heart. — 2 Cor. 3:3. 

III. The Change. 

Not with eye service as menpleasers; but as 
the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from 
the heart. — Eph. 6:6. 

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, 
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's 
sake hath forgiven you, — Eph. 4:32. 

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and 
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness 
of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one 
another, and forgiving one another, if any man 
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ for- 
gave you, so also do ye. — Col. 3:11, 12. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 105 

Loving If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, 

God and he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother 

man. whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom 

he hath not seen? And this commandment have 

we from him. That he who loveth God love his 

brother also. — 1 Jno. 4:20,21. 

31. REGENERATION. 

In this study let us look at the necessity, nature and con- 
sistency of the new birth, and how it is effected. In the next 
we will look at the evidence of regeneration, or how we may 
know whether we have been born again or not. 

Three things are absolutely necessary for man before 
he can live with God: 

1. His debt of sin must be paid. "The soul that sinneth 
shall die." Man is bankrupt himself and can only pay this 
debt by an eternity of suffering. But Jesus has paid this debt, 
"all the debt I owe; sin had left a crimson stain; He washed 
it white as snow." God has promised to accept Christ's pay- 
ment of our debt; let us not be so foolish as to try to pay 
it ourselves. 

2. We need a perfect righteousness. "Without holiness 
no man shall see God." This, man in his sin is utterly des- 
titute of, and must forever remain so for we cannot cleanse 
ourselves. "Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's 
sight." But God has provided for this, by putting our sins on 
Jesus, and his perfect righteousness on us. Substitution for 
the first need and imputation for the second, both promised 
of God on our repentance and faith. 

3. We need new natures. "Ye must be born again." 
Without this changed nature, even if our debt of sin was paid 
and we were given perfect holiness, we would not BE holy; 
we would still go on sinning and so be separated from God. 
The devil in heaven, would be the devil still, and so of any 
sinner. If our debt were all paid, our sin all forgiven, and 
we were wrapt in Christ's robe of perfect righteousness, we 
would be sinners still and could not be happy in heaven. 
Change of place will not change nature: it does not here, and 
it would not there. These three things we must possess be- 



106 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

fore we can be reconciled to God or meet him in peace, and 
all of them are as utterly impossible for us to reach of our- 
selves as for the Ethiopian to change his skin or the Leopard 
his spots. As God has provided for the other needs, he has 
also for this. The Holy Spirit will regenerate every soul that 
will truly repent of sin and fully believe on Jesus Christ. We 
are born again, made "new creatures" by faith in Jesus. 
This study will make this clear. 

Morality is good, but not good enough; the nature is still 
sinful and must be changed. Reformation is good, but does 
not go deep enough; it only affects the outward life and con- 
duct, but leaves the heart still full of its sin and unbelief 
toward God. Reformation is building a new platform and 
curb about a well whose waters are full of disease germs. 
New curb, platform, rope and bucket will not stop the disease. 
We must go to the bottom and thoroughly cleanse the well 
out. Regeneration goes to the bottom completely by chang- 
ing the heart entirely, renewing the very nature, so that from 
it the pure, sweet water of life may flow for our own re- 
freshing and the blessing of the world. God knows best. Let 
us believe him and take his way, not trying to patch or doc- 
tor our sinful natures ourselves, for all such efforts will end 
in utter failure and everlasting disappointment. 

I. Its Necessity. 
Word of Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, 

Jesus. verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born 

again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. — 

Jno. 3:3. 
Not form For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision 

but life. availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new 

creature. — Gal. 6:15. 
Absolute And there shall in no wise enter into it any- 

purity thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh 

required. abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are 

written in the Lamb's book of life. — Rev. 21:27. 
II. Its Naure. 
Spiritual. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and 

that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. — J-no. 3:6. 
Spirit But God hath revealed them unto us by his 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



107 



for 
spiritual 
tilings. 



Spiritual 
building. 



New 
disposition, 



New 
purposes. 

New love. 



"Born of 
God." 

"Love of 
God." 

New wills. 

Given of 
God. 

Not formal 
but 



Spirit: for the Spirit searchetli all tilings, yea, the 
deep things of God. For what man knoweth the 
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is 
in him? even so the things of God fe:noweth no 
man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have re- 
ceived, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit 
which is of God; that we might know the things 
which are freely given to us of God. — 1 Cor. 
2:10-12. 

Ye also as lively stcnes, are built up a spiritual 
house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual 
sacrifices, acceptable to God hy Jesus Christ. — • 
1 Pet. 2:5. 

III. Its Consistency. 

Now if I do that I would not, it Is no more I 
that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me, I find 
then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is 
present with me. For I delight in the law of God 
after the inward man: But I see another law in 
my members, warring against the law of my 
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law 
of sin which is in my members. — Rom. 7:20-23. 

For they that are after the flesh do mind the 
things of the flesh; but they that are after the 
Spirit, the things of the Spirit. — Rom. 8:5. 

Love not the world, neither the things that are 
in the world. If any man love the world, the love 
of the Father is not in him. — 1 Jno. 2:15. 

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is 
of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, 
and knoweth God. — 1 Jno. 4:7. 

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the 
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 
Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Rom. 5:5. 

With good will doing service, as unto the Lord, 
and not unto men. — Eph.6:7. 

For it is God which worketh in you both to will 
and to do of his good pleasure. — Phil. 2:13. 

And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine 
heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord 



108 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



spiritual. 

Internal 

not 
ixternal. 



"New 
creature. 

"New 
man." 



"Of God.' 



''With the 
Word," 

"By the 
Word," 
but not of 
the Word. 
"Through 
the Spirit." 



Mysterious, 
yet a fact. 



thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, 
that thou mayest live. — Deut. 30:6. 

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; 
neither is that circumcision, which is outward in 
the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; 
and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, 
and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, 
but of God.— Rom. 2:28, 29. 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new 
creature: old things are passed away; behold all 
things are become new. — 2 Cor... 5: 17. 

Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off 

the old man with his deeds; and have put on the 

new man, which is renewed in knowledge after 

the image of him that created him. — Col. 3:9, 10. 

IV. How Effected. 

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will 
of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
— Jno. 1:13. 

Of his own will begat he us with the word of 
truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of 
his creatures.— Jas. 1:18. 

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but 
of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth 
and abideth forever.— 1 Pet. 1:23. 

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying 
the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love 
of the brethren, see that ye love one another with 
a pure heart fervently. — 1 Pet. 1:22. 

In whom ye also are builded together for a 
habitation of God through the Spirit. — Eph. 2:22. 

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou 
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell 
whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is 
everyone that is born of the Spirit. — John 3:8. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 109 



32. EVIDENCES OF REGENERATION. 

Seeing how full and clear the Scriptures are on this 
most vital point of a change of heart, or regeneration, its- 
absolute necessity and plain possibility, how careful all should 
be to know if this wonderful change has taken place in us. 
Thousands have anxiously asked the question, "How can 1 
know that I am a child of God?" Is it possible to know? It 
certainly is. For any one doing God's will, following the 
teaching of his Word, it is as easy and certain to know that 
he is born of the Spirit, as to know that he is born of the 
flesh. All may not have the same experience when the 
change is wrought in them, but all may know. Some are 
converted very young, some when old and some in midrlle 
life. Some have been moral and some perhaps very immoral. 
The change in a child or a moral person will not be so great 
or noticeable as in an older person, or in one who has lived 
a very wicked life, but all may know, and no one should rest 
satisfied until the question is settled and he has full assur- 
ance and perfect peace. 

It is too Important a matter for us to go on in darkness 
and doubt about. One doubting his conversion can be neither 
useful nor happy, and God has not only provided for our sal- 
vation, but for bestowing upon us "blessed assurance," for 
our comfort and happiness, that we may be useful in the 
world, in spreading his gospel and saving the lost. One 
who doesn't know whether he is saved or not, would make 
a very poor evangel. The reason why many are in doubt 
is because they are doing so little for God. It is no part of 
God's plan of salvation to give us full assurance while we 
are living in neglect of duty. "Out of duty, in doubt," always. 
God would have us in duty and out of doubt. Many would 
quickly lose their doubts if they would spend the time in do- 
ing God's work in the world, and seeking more grace, that 
they now spend in doubting or wondering whether they have 
any grace at all or not. Doubts are sometimes God's angels 
to lead us back into duty. If we are out of duty, and have 
no doubt, it is almost certain that we are unsaved. 

Many more evidences of regeneration might be given, but 



110 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Led by 



the Spirit. 



these ten are enough to show all of us very clearly where 
we stand. They are Bible evidences, God's proofs. Study 
theni carefully and prayerfully, and try your heart and life 
by them. Let us examine ourselves by the help of these 
texts, in the light of these truths. Now is the time to do 
this; it will be too late when we come to stand before the 
judgment seat of Christ. Let us not be satisfied with fearing, 
doubting, wishing or hoping that we are saved, when we may 
so easily know. The Apostle said, "I know in whom I have 
believed." He had no doubt, and no one else will, who lives 
a life anything like his in faithful service. 

1. For as many as are led by the Spirit of 
God, they are the sons of God. — Rom. 8:14. 

For they that are after the flesh do mind the 
things of the flesh; but they that are after the 
Spirit, the things of the Spirit. — Rom. 8:5. 

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, 
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now 
if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is 
none of his. — Rom-. 8:9. 

2. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness 
and righteousness and truth.) — Eph. 5:9. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. 
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 
ness, temperance: against such there is no law. — 
Epli. 5:22,23. 

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 
—Matt. 7:20. 

3. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, 
and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are 
contrary one to the other; so that ye cannot do 
the things that ye would. But if ye are led of the 
Spirit ye are not under the law. — Gal. 5:17, 18. 

And they that are Christ's have crucified the 
flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in 
the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us 
not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one 
another, envying one another. — Gal. 5:24-26. 
Not 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh 

worldly. the world: and this is the victory that overcometh 



Fruits of 
the Spirit. 



Spiritual 



warfare. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



111 



ttie world, even your faith. — 1 J no. 5:4. 

Loving 5. We know that we have passed from death 

Christians, unto life, because we love the brethren. — 1 Jno. 
3:14. 

6. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; 
and in his law doth he meditate day and night. — 
Ps. 1:2. 

Loving Thy testimonies also are my delight and my 

counselors. — Ps. 119:24. 
the And I will delight myself in thy command- 

ments, which I have loved. — Ps. 119:47. 

Bible. Neither have I gone back from the command- 

ments of his lips; I have esteemed the words of 
his mouth more than my necessary food. — Job 
23:12. 

Loving 7. My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the 

couits of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth 
out for the living God. — Ps. 84:2. 

God's For a day in thy courts is better than a thous- 

liouse. and. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house 

of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wicked- 
ness.— Ps. 84:10. 

8. If ye love me keep my commandments. — 
Jno. 14:15. 

Loving For this is the love of God, that we keep his 

His commandments: and his commandments are hot 

service. grievous. — 1 Jno, 5:3. 

Bringing 9. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and 

souls to saith unto him. We have found the Messias, which 

Jesus. is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought 

him to Jesus. — Jno. 1:41,42. 

Delight in 10. As for me, I will call upon God; evening, 

prayer and and morning and at noon, will I pfay, and cry 
aloud: and he shall hear my voice. — Ps, 55:16,17. 

forgiving Yet they seek me daily, * * * They take de- 

light in approaching to God. — Is. 58:2. 

others. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven. — Lu. 6:37. 



112 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



33. SEVEN STEPS TO PEACE. 

These may all be briefly comprehended in one, faith, 
when we understand faith in all its relations. A little study 
of these seven steps, however, will make the subject clearer 
to all. Peace is the gift of God, one of the fruits of the 
Spirit and the result of justifying faith. Jesus said, "Peace 
I leave with you: my peace I give unto you," and his chief 
apostle says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have 
peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

This peace belongs only to the believer; the wicked do 
not know it and never will until they believe in Jesus. They 
may say that they have no trouble of conscience, may claim 
that they have peace, but God says differently, "The wicked 
are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters 
cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God to 
the wicked. The way of peace they know not." Better be- 
lieve God, Our own hearts will fool us; they are "deceitful, 
and desperately wicked." When a sinner has peace it is the 
peace of death, like the dead calm before the tornado, like the 
calm, Spurgeon has said, that is sometimes perceived in 
higher mountain regions. "Everything is still. The birds 
suspend their notes, fly low, and cower down with fear. The 
hum of bees among the flowers is hushed. A horrible still- 
ness rules the hour, as if death had silenced all things by 
stretching over them his awful scepter. Perceive ye not what 
is surely at hand? The tempest is preparing, the lightning 
will soon cast forth its flames of fire. Earth will rock with 
thunderbolts; granite peaks will dissolve; all nature will 
tremble beneath the fury of the storm. Yours is that solemn 
calm today, sinner. Rejoice not in it, for the hurricane of 
wrath is coming, the whirlwind and the tribulation which 
shall sweep you away and utterly destroy you." 

I have just written an obligation in the form of a note 
for a thousand dollars. I may accidentally upset my ink or 
purposely pour it over the note so it can scarcely be read, if at 
all, but this will not pay the debt. The obligation still re- 
mains, even though the ink-blot hides it from my eyes. It is 
so with the sinner. He has an infinite debt of sin. He may 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 113 

blot it out by forgetting it in business, pleasure or sin, but 
it is still tbere and will remain until God blots it out through 
the genuine repentance and faith of the sinner. There is a 
great difference between our blotting out sin, or God blotting 
it out. The one will bring no, the other, endless peace. The 
one is an awful delusion, the other a blessed fact. 

One of our best known hymns has so much gospel in it 
that I cannot forbear quoting it here in full. Note the first 
verse sings that we have this peace, the second, how it was 
procured for us, the third, how and when it came into my 
heart, and the fourth, how it may continue or abide. 

"There comes to my heart one sweet strain, 

A glad and a joyous refrain, 

I sing it again and again. 

Sweet peace, the gift of God's love. 

By Christ on the cross peace was made. 
My debt by his death was all paid; 

No other foundation is laid . 
For peace, the gift of God's love. 

When Jesus as Lord I had crowned. 

My heart with his peace did abound, 
In him the rich blessing I found, 

Sweet peace, the gift of God's love. 

In Jesus for peace I abide. 

And as I keep close to his side. 
There's nothing but peace doth betide. 
Sweet peace, the gift of God's love." 
It is quite necessary that we should realize the full truth 
of this hymn, that the ground of this peace is the death of 
Christ, that it comes to us through receiving him by faith, 
and continues only as we "trust and obey." We often hear 
of the "peace that passeth all understanding," and of "peace 
like a river," but very few could tell the context, or the con- 
ditions upon which these beautiful expressions of peace are 
based. Christian obedience is the ground in both cases. The 
Apostle says, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by 
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests 
be made known unto God." And then comes "The peace of (Jod 

8 



114 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

whicti passeth all understanding." As we obey the precepts 
of trust and prayer, we have this peace. The Lord said, "O 
that thou hadst hearkened unto my commandments! then had 
thy peace been as a river," obedience again. So in this 
study we must repent, believe, put away sin, make restitution, 
forgive those who have injured us, confess Christ and obey 
him. As we fail in these we fail of peace. Others may not 
be ignored. 
Repent. 1. And saying. Repent ye: for the kingdom of 

heaven is at hand. — Matt. 3:2. 
Believe. 2. And he said to the woman. Thy faith hath 

saved thee; go in peace. — Lu. 7:50. 
Secret 3. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord 

will not hear me. — Ps. 66:18. 
sin. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine 

iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my 
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest 
the iniquity of my sin. Selah. — Ps. 32:5. 
Restitution. 4. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again 
that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, 
without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, 
he shall not die. — Ezek. 33:15. 
Forgive 5. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your 

others. Father which is in heaven forgive your tres- 

passes. — iVIk. 11:26. 
Confess 6. These words spake his parents, because 

they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed 
already, that if any man did confess that he was 
Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. — 
Jno. 9:22. 
Christ. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before 

men, him will I confess also before my Father 
which is in heaven. 

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him 
will I also deny before my Father which is in 
heaven.— Matt. 10:32,33. 
Obey 7. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and 

Christ. said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy 

way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the 
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 115 

and come, take up the cross, and follow me. (See 
also Isa. 48:18; Phil. 4:6, 7).— Mk. 10:21. 

(By disobedience the young man failed to find 
peace. As we trust and obey all, we shall have 
continual peace.) 

34. FORGIVING. 

Nothing perhaps will disturb and destroy our Christian 
peace more than "holding a grudge," or permitting an un- 
forgiving spirit to have a place in our hearts. The teaching 
of Christ is very full, plain and positive on this point. We 
must forgive others, or we cannot be forgiven ourselves. Jesus 
makes this very plain in this study. No prayer or service of 
any kind is heard or accepted of God from us until we are 
right with all the world, or have done our best to be recon- 
ciled, and have in our own hearts full forgiveness for all. 
Jesus said, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there re- 
memberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave 
there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be re- 
conciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." 
No use to offer our gift of time, labor, money or prayer, if 
we are not right with our brother or neighbor in personal 
matters. This is one clear case in which we might as well 
"whistle as to pray." An unforgiving spirit in our hearts is 
a cloud or thick veil between us and God. Our prayers if 
we pray will rise no higher than the Pharisee's. We might 
as well have a great stone or iron caldron turned" over us. 
We could hear ourselves, but no one else could and God 
would not. A Christian cannot afford to live so. 

"But," some one says, "I just cannot forgive that one." 
Yes you can, if you are a child of God. Jesus loved and 
prayed for his murderers, and if we are children of God we 
have his Spirit, and if we have his Spirit we can do what 
he did; we can love and pray for and do good to our enemies. 
"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his." 
Human nature cannot forgive and love enemies, but divine 
nature can and does. If we say we cannot, then we are let- 
ting the human rule us rather than the divine, we are walk- 
ing after the flesh. An old saying is in place here and 



116 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

worth remembering: "To return evil for good is devlisli, 
evil for evil is brutish, good for good is human, but good for 
evil is divine." The way we act and feel towards others 
shows where we belong in this scale, for Jesus taught that 
feelings make guilt as well as actions. Jesus was a won- 
derful peacemaker. Matthew 5:24 and 18:15 if heeded will 
bring all alienated hearts together. The offender and the 
offended each has something to do, and if both are obedient 
they will meet half way. 

If any one is unwilling to forgive it is because he has 
never very fully realized his own sinfulness. No one has 
ever done us such wrong as we have done God, and when we 
realize that he has forgiven our many and great sins, it will 
be easy to forgive the little wrongs that others have done 
us. We can then forgive and love our worst enemy. We 
need more of the heart of God; then pity and love (not 
despising) would take the place of wounded feeling and re- 
sentment. For a wrong while hurting me cannot harm my 
soul, but does injure the soul of the one doing it. The old 
song is true, "Grief follows the sinful." And Jesus says 
again, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give 
him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on 
his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with 
good." 

It is related of John Wesley that he had a misunder- 
standing with his travelling companion, Joseph Bradbury, 
which resulted in Bradbury saying to him one night that 
they must part. In the morning Wesley inquired of him, 
"Will you ask my pardon?" "No," said the other. "Then I 
will ask yours," said the great preacher. This broke Brad- 
bury down, who melted under the speech and wept like a 
child. Returning good for evil is God's way of winning the 
evil doer, his way of saving the world, his way of saving me. 
Our way would drive men away forever. 

That we may forgive our worst enemy is shown from an 
incident among the Maori converts of New Zealand, just out 
of savagery. The missionary was holding a farewell com- 
munion service. To his surprise he noticed one man who 
had been kneeling arise, return to his seat in the church, and 
after a while come back and receive the sacrament. On 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 117 

inquiring the reason of such conduct, the man replied that 
he had knelt beside a man whom he found to be the mui*- 
derer of his father, and whose life he had one time sworn 
to take. At first he could not bear to receive the sacra- 
ment with this converted murderer. On resuming his seat, 
however, he thought he heard a voice say, "By this shall all 
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to 
another." While he was still rebelling, he thought that he 
saw the Cross, and heard the Man upon it say, "Father, for- 
give them, for they know not what they do." This over* 
came him, and he returned and received the communion 
with his former enemy. If a vision of Christ enabled this 
man to forgive his father's murderer, the same vision will 
enable every one of us to forgive those who have injured us. 
One incident like this, one such miracle of grace, will sweep 
away and destroy all the infidel arguments in the world. 
And God wants us all to manifest such miracles for the 
convincing of the world. If we cannot forgive our enemies 
how much better are we than the world, and what real proof 
have we that our religion is divine? Let us be living demon- 
strations. 

Seven Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother tres- 

times pass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, 

a day. forgive him. And if he trespass against thee 

seven times in a day, and seven times in a day 
turn again to thee saying, I repent; thou shalt 
forgive him. (To this the disciples were com- 
pelled to say, "Lord, increase our faith.") — Lu. 
17:3,4. 
Command. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn 
not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and 
ye shall be forgiven. — Lu. 6:37. 
Forgiven, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, 

forgiving one another, even as God for Christ'u 
sake hath forgiven you. — Eph. 4:32. 
therefore Forbearing one another, and forgiving one an- 

other, if any have a quarrel against any: even as 
Christ forgave you, so also do ye. — Col. 3:1.3. 
forgive. And you, being dead in your sins and the un- 

circumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened to- 



118 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Enemies, 
Jesus, 
Four 
commands. 



Stephen. 



490 times. 



Unforgiv- 
ing, 
Unforgiven 

Forgiven 



as we 
forgive. 



getlier with him, having forgiven you all tres- 
passes. — Col. 2: 13. 

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they 
know not what they do. — Lu. 23:34. 

But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless 
them that curse you, do good to them that hate 
you, and pray for them which despitefully use 
you and persecute you. — Matt. 5:44. 

And he kneeled down and cried with a loud 
voice. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. — 
Acts 7:60. 

Then Peter came to him, and said. Lord, how 
oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive 
him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I 
say not unto thee. Until seven times: but until 
seventy times seven. — Matt. 18:21,22. 

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also 
unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every 
.one his brother their trespasses. (Read context). 
—Matt. 18:35. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our 
debtors. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, 
your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But 
if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will 
your Father forgive your trespasses. — Matt. 6:12, 
14,15. 

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive 
every one that is indebted to us. — Lu. 11:4. 

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have 
aught against any; that your Father also which is 
in heaven may forgive your trespasses. But if ye 
do not forgive, neither will your Father which is 
in heaven forgive your trespasses. — Mk. 11:25, 26. 



35. LOVE. 



Two very distinct and essentially different kinds of love 
are recognized in the Bible, common or human love, the love 
for those who love us, such as Jesus said even the publicans 
had, that is of the earth, earthly, and will perish with the 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 119 

earth, even the purest conjugal, parental, filial or fraternal 
love, and the divine, uncommon, infinite, unspeakable love of 
God. Human love may be tender and true and strong but it 
is not abiding; it is of this life and world, and can only last 
as long as this life and world last. There is no real love in 
the world of lost spirits. Only this divine love, or love of 
God, can fill or satisfy any soul. It is this love that makes 
a little heaven on earth and will make a perfect, glorious 
heaven above, where all is love, for "God is love." No won- 
der the Christian poet sings: 

"Let me love thee more and more. 
Till this fleeting, fleeting live is o'er; 
Till my soul is lost in love, 
In a brighter, brighter world above.'* 
This divine love is the love to be learned in this study, 
the love that the Apostle says "abideth," and is greater than 
faith and hope, because it is of God and is God and abideth 
forever, and of which Henry Drummond wrote as "The 
greatest thing in the world." 

This wonderful love of God is revealed to us clearly in 
the Word of God. In nature an open eye and mind can see 
the' greatness and dimly some of the goodness of God, but his 
infinite love is revealed in his Word, and is demonstrated by 
sending his Son into the world to suffer and die for sinful 
man, God dying himself in the person of his Son for man. 
Such love is beyond our comprehension, yet some way it 
reaches our hearts, brings us to his feet in brokenhearted, 
penitent, trusting faith, fills us and sends us forth in his will- 
ing service. The coming of this love into a human soul and 
its wonderful work there is most beautifully and truly pic- 
tured in the following poem by Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, entitled 

The Fountain of Praise. 

All my soul was dry and dead 
Till I learned that Jesus bled; 
Bled and suffered in my place. 
Bearing sin in matchless grace. 

Then a drop of heavenly love 

Fell upon me from above, 



120 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

And by secret, mystic art 
Reached the center of my heart. 
Glad the story I recount, : 

How that drop became a fount, 
Bubbled up a living well. 
Made my heart begin to swell. 

All within my soul was praise, 
Praise increasing all my days; 
Praise that could not silent be; 
Floods were struggling to be free. 
More and more the waters grew, 
Open wide the flood gates flew. 
Leaping forth in streams of song. 
Plowed my happy life along. 

Lo, a river clear and sweet. 
Laved my glad, obedient feet: 
Soon it rose up to my knees. 
And I prayed and praised with ease. 
Now my soul in praises swims, 
' ' Bathes in songs, and psalms and hymns; 

Plunges down into the deeps, 
All her powers in worship steeps. ; 

Hallelujah! O my Lord, 
Torrents from my soul are poured. 
I am carried clean away, 
Praising, praising all the day, > 

In an ocean of delight. 
Praising God with all my might, 
Self is drowned. So let it be; 
Only Christ remains to me. 
This wonderful love, God himself, the Father's heart, Is re- 
vealed in the Word, demonstrated by the sacrifice of Christ, 
the Son, imparted to man through the regenerating, sanctifying 
power of the Holy Spirit, and is to be manifested by us in and 
to the world. As the natural sunlight floods the material world, 
so the spiritual sunlight of God's love floods and would fill 
the spiritual world, the souls of men, if it were not for the 
insulating effect of unbelief, shutting it out of the sinner's 
heart completely, and the same, in selfishness and neglect of 
duty, so beclouding the Christian's life that the light of love 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 121 

can scarcely be seen or felt. And yet by the sbining of this 

light, Jesus said, the world is to be convinced. "By this shall 

all men know that ye are my disciples." In this study see 

four thoughts about love. 

I. Its Origin. 

In and of Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of 

God. God; and every one that loveth (with this divine 

love) is born of God, and knoweth God. He that 
loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. — 
1Jno.4:7,8. 

Father, And we have known and believed the love that 

God hath to us. God is love: and he that 
dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. 
—Uno. 4:16. 

Son, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, 

and hath given himself for us an offering and a 
sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.— 
Eph. 5:2. 

Spirit. Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus 

Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that 
ye strive together with me in your prayers to God 
for me. — Rom. 15:30. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 
ness, temperance. — Gal. 5:22. 

The starter. We love him, because he first loved us. — 1 Jno. 
4:19. 

M. Love's IVIeasure. 

Infinite, In this was manifested the love of God toward 

us, because that God sent his only begotten Son 
into the world, that we might live through him. 
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he 
loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation 
for our sins. — 1 Jno. 4:9, 10. 

Father, For God so loved the world that he gave his 

only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 
him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
Jno. 3:16. 

Son. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man 

lay down his life for his friends. — Jno. 15:13. 



122 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



By faith. 



Holy 
Spirit. 

Evidence, 
(to our- 
selves.) 
Right I<ind. 



Rooted In 
love. 

Fulfills 
the law. 
Our debt. 



Evidence, 
(to the 
world.) 



Right kind. 



III. How in Us. 

I am crucified with Christ; neverless I live; 
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life 
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith 
of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself 
for me. — Gal. 2:20. 

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the 
love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 
Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Rom. 5:5. 

We know that we have passed from death unto 
life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth 
not his brother abideth in death. — 1 Jno. 3:14. 

My little children, let us not love in word, 
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.—- 
1 Jno. 3:18. 

IV. Its Operation. 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; 
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. — Eph, 
3:17. 

Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore 
love is the fulfilling of the law. — Rom. 13:10. 

Owe no man anything, but to love one another: 
for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. — 
Rom. 13:8. 

A new commandment I give unto you. That ye 
love one another; as I have loved you, that ye 
also love one another. By this shall all men know 
that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to 
another. — Jno. 13:34, 35. 

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his broth- 
er, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother 
whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom 
he hath not seen? And this commandment have 
we from him, that he who loveth God love his 
brother also. — 1 Jno. 4:20, 21. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 123 



36. THE DIVINE LAMENTATION AND ENTREATY. 

As a very little leak in the levee or dyke will lead to tke 
great break letting in the natural flood of river or ocean, 
dealing death and destruction over the land, so the little sin 
of Adam let in the great spiritual flood of sin, sorrow, suffer- 
ing, darkness and death covering the whole earth. God saw 
this flood, and he was not a cold, careless, disinterested 
spectator of the awful ruin, darkness and desolation. He 
might have turned his back upon the dreadful scene forever, 
but instead he looked upon the lost unhappy world with in- 
finite pity and compassion. The grief of God over the ruined 
world was real, far beyond the possibility of our comprehend- 
ing, bringing him even to tears. What can show us the awful- 
ness of sin more than the picture of God weeping over fallen 
man? 

"The Son of God in tears. 
The wondering angels see; 

Be thou astonished, O my soul. 
He shed those tears for thee." 

As the clouds drop their tears for the cleansing, purifying, 
refreshing and renewing of nature, so might the tears of God 
avail in the spiritual world. Tears, however, even of the 
Son of God, will not in themselves wash away sin. But God's 
tears were so genuine, his sympathy so deep, that it led him 
to plan a way of escape for man, even the "way of the cross," 
the death of his own Son. What but an infinite interest in 
and love for man could have made God think of dying for a 
sinner, the Creator for the creature? God's sorrow was real, 
and very much like the sorrow of that father, only infinitely 
greater, who punished his child for a three days' truancy by 
shutting him in an upper room alone for three days and 
nights. While feeling that he must inflict this punishment 
it yet grieved the father so that he would go up nights and 
sleep with his arms around his boy, bearing thus a part of 
his punishment. Jesus bore not a part but all the punishment 
of my sin. If that boy saw how his sin grieved his father 
and how much his father loved him, and was led to love his 
father more and to be a better boy, how much more God's 



124 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

love to us should lead us to love him. 

God "saw us ruined by the fall, yet loved us notwithstand- 
ing all," and with God to see is to help. As angels of mercy 
he sent his pity and love down to earth. 
"God called the nearest angels that dwell with him above, 
The tenderest one was pity, the dearest one was love. 
Arise, he said, my angels, a wail of woe and sin 
Steals through the gates of heaven and saddens all within." 
Jesus came as the embodiment of these two angels, and 
we see his pity and love, sympathy and compassion, in his 
healing the sick, feeding the hungry and finally dying for 
the lost. See in this study God's great sorrow, his provision 
in the death of his Son, and in sending prophets, apostles 
and preachers to proclaim the good news through all the 
world, and his tender entreaties. If all this love be rejected 
what can the sinner expect or hope for but justice. As God 
has committed his rescue work to us, let us find and follow 
closely a pattern in the example of our Savior in healing the 
blind man, Mark 7:33-35. Note four points here: 1. Jesus 
"looked up," prayer; 2. "sighed," deep sympathy; 3. "touched," 
living contact, loving deed; 4. "spoke," kindly, helpful word. 
So may we see, feel, speak, do, that God's love and tears may 
not be in vain. 

I, The Lamentation, 
God Oh that there were such a heart in them, that 

they would fear me, and keep all my command- 
ments always, that it might be well with them, 
and with their children forever! — Deut. 5:29. 
yearning Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and 

Israel had walked in my ways. — Ps. 81:13. 
to bless. O that thou hadst hearkened unto my com- 

manments! then had thy peace been as a river, 
and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. — 
Is. 48:18. 
Jesus O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the 

prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto 
thee, how often would I have gathered thy chil- 
dren together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens 
under her wings, and ye would not. — Matt. 23:37. 
weeping. And when he was come near, he beheld the 

city, and wept over it. — Lu. 19:41. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



125 



Redemp- 
tion. 

God 



sending, 



calling, 



"Rising 
early." 

"Rising 
early." 



Man 



refusing 



to 
hear. 
"Not 
heark- 
ened." 



M. The Provision, 

God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto 
himself.— 2 Cor. 5:19. 

In whom we have redemption. — Eph. 1:7. 

And now because ye have done all these works, 
saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up 
early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I 
called you, but ye answered not. — Jer. 7:13. 

Since the day that your fathers came forth out 
of the land of Egypt unto this day, I have even 
sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily 
rising up early and sending them. — Jer. 7:25. 

For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in 
the day that I brought them up out of the land of 
Egypt even unto this day, rising early and protest- 
ing saying. Obey my voice. — Jer. 11:7. 

I have spoken unto you, rising early and speak- 
ing; but ye have not hearkened. And the Lord 
hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, 
rising early and sending them; but ye have not 
hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear. — Jer. 
25:3,4. 

To hearken to the words of my servants the 
prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up 
early, and sending them, but ye have not heark- 
ened. — Jer. 26:5. 

Because they have not hearkened to my words, 
saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my 
servants the prophets, rising up early and send- 
ing them, but ye would not hear, saith the Lord. — 
Jer. 29:19. 

I have spoken unto you, rising early and speak- 
ing; but ye hearkened not unto me. I have sent 
also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising 
up early and sending them, saying. Return ye now 
every man from his evil way, and amend your do- 
ings, and go not after other gods to serve them, 
and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given 
to you and to your fathers: but ye have not in- 
clined your ear, nor hearkened unto me, — Jer. 
35:14,15. 



126 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



The 
long- 
suffering 
Lord. 
Wills not 
the death 



of any. 



"Look unto 
me." 

Pleads, 
"turn ye." 



"Come 
now." 



"Come 
unto me. 



III. The Entreaty. 

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 
as some men count slackness; but is long suffering 
to US-ward, not willing that any should perish, but 
that all should come to repentance. — 2 Pet. 3:9. 

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked 
should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he 
should return from his ways, and live? — Ezek. 
18:23. 

Cast away from you all your transgressions, 
whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a 
new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, 

house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the 
death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: where- 
fore turn yourselves, and live ye. — Ezek. 18:31,32. 

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends 
of the earth: for I am God, and there is none 
else.— Is. 45:22. 

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, 

1 have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but 
that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn 
ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye 
die, O house of Israel? — Ezek. 33:11. 

Come now and let us reason together, saith the 
Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall 
be as white as snow; though they be red like 
crimson, they shall be as wool. — Is. 1:18. 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke 
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and 
lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your 
souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is 
light— Matt. 11:28-30. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 127 



37. THE HEATHEN. 



By the heathen we may understand the people who live 
where they have never heard of Christ, or of the Christian 
religion, or of the true God as he is revealed in the Word of 
God. While much has been done, especially in the last hun- 
dred years, for the enlightenment of heathen peoples, there 
are yet countless millions of them that have never heard of 
a Savior. Will the heathen be saved without the gospel? 
Almost every one has an opinion on this question, but will 
opinions answer it? May not one man's opinion be just as 
good as another? Do opinions make truth? Is any one saved 
here by his opinion? Have we any sure, absolute, unfailing 
guide? Yes, the Bible. It is useless for us to speculate, hold 
opinions, especially to argue about the condition and fate of 
the heathen, while not carefully searching to see what the 
Bible has to say about it. Mr. Spurgeon once said it is not 
so much a question whether the heathen will be saved with- 
out the gospel as it is whether we will be saved if we do not 
send the gospel to them. The only clear and real light we 
have at all concerning salvation, we must get from the Bible. 

From the two preceding studies we have had a quite full 
and clear view of God's great love, not for any one man, or 
family, or tribe, or nation, or race, but for the whole world. 
God loved the world and Christ died for all, and yet we have 
seen already that only those that believe on or receive Christ 
by faith are saved. If the heathen could be saved without 
faith, then we would have two plans of salvation, with the 
advantage decidedly in favor of the heathen, for they would 
all be saved, w^hile most of those who heard the gospel would 
be lost. Then Christ would better have never come into this 
world at all, would better have died in some other part of the 
universe, and no knowledge of it ever have been sent here, 
for all would have then been saved, while now many will be 
lost. Is it not plain that the thought of the heathen being 
saved without the gospel, is one of the worst forms of in- 
fidelity, though covered with a beautiful veil of our own 
making, in our benevolent wish or opinion that they ought 
to be saved? And what is this but exalting ourselves, parad- 



128 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

ing our own morality and superior goodness, and really ac- 
cusing, condemning God and Christ and the Bible for un- 
fairness and injustice in punishing the heathen? And all this 
to save ourselves from the responsibility, labor and expense 
of sending the gospel to them as God has commanded us to do. 
It is easier and cheaper to find fault with God and his Word 
than to do our duty. But will this pay us in the end? May 
our eyes be opened here. 

In this study and the one following are given with much 
fullness the Scriptures on these two subjects. Let us study 
carefully and prayerfully the condition, fate, help and hope 
for the heathen, and our own duty, and let us not draw back 
from our obligation, but press forward with thousands of 
others who are newly awaking and consecrating themselves 
and their means more fully for the evangelization of the 
heathen world in this generation. The light of a new day, a 
brighter day is dawning on the sin-darkened lands. Let us 
stop Questioning and doubting and go to praying and working 
for the heathen. Read the Scriptures in these two studies and 
let the Bible be our guide. Many do not know the Bible on 
this subject. 

I. Condition. 
In The people that walked in darkness have seen 

darkness, a great light; they that dwell in the land of the 
shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 
Is. 9:2. 
Darkness. For ye were sometime darkness, but now are 

ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. — 
Eph. 5:8. 
A>vf ul And even as they did not like to retain God in 

picture. their knowledge, God gave them over to a repro- 
of bate mind, to do those things which are not con- 
Heathen venient; being filled with all unrighteousness, 
world. fornication, wickedness, covetousness, malicious- 
ness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malig- 
nity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, de- 
spiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, 
disobedient to parents, without natural affection, 
implacable, unmerciful: who, knowing the judg- 
ment of God, that they who commit such things 
are worthy of death, not only do the same, but 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



129 



have pleasure in them that do them. — Rom. 1 : 28-32. 

No hope. That at that time ye were without Christ, being 

aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and 

strangers from the covenants of promise, having 

no hope, and without God in the world. — Eph. 2:12., 

Sunken The heathen are sunk down in the pit that 

down. they made; in the net which they hid is their own 

foot taken. — Ps. 9:15. 

II. Fate. 
Punish- The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all 

ment the nations that forget God. — Ps. 9:17. 

ever- In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that 

lasting. know not God, and that obey not the gospel of 
our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with 
everlasting destruction from the presence of the 
Lord, and from the glory of his power. — 2Thess. 
1:8,9. 
Reason: Because that, when they knew God, they glori- 

Wilful, fied him not as God, neither were thankful; but 

became vain in their imaginations, and their fool- 
ish heart was darkened. — Rom. i:21. 
No excuse. So that they are without excuse. — Rom. 1:20. 

ill. How Condemned. 
By For as many as have sinned without law shall 

unwritten also perish without law; and as many as have 
law in sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.-— 

the heart. Rom. 2:12. 

Which show the work of the law written in 
their hearts, their conscience also bearing wit- 
ness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing 
or else excusing one another. — Rom. 2:15. 
Punishment But he that knew not, and did commit things 
lightened, worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. 
yet For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall 

"perish." be much required. — Lu. 12:48. 

IV. Only Hope. 
Light and In him was life; and the life was the light of 

life in men. — Jno. 1:4. 

Jesus only. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I 
am the light of the world; he that followeth me 



130 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Found by 
prayer. 



Our light 
shine. 



Go and 
preach. 

Send the 
preacher. 



To the 
Gentiles. 



"Ends of 
the earth." 



shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the 
light of life.— J no. 8:12. 

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever 
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be 
saved. — Acts 2:21. 

V. Our Duty. 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is 
set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light 
a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a 
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are 
in the house. Let your light so shine before men, 
that they may see your good works, and glorify 
your Father which is in heaven. — Matt. 5:14-16. 

And he said unto them, go ye into all the 
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. — 
Mk. 16:15. 

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the 
Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on 
him in whom they have not believed? And how 
shall they believe in him of whom they have not 
heard? And how shall they hear without a 
preacher? And how shall they preach, except 
they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful 
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of 
peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! — 
Rom. 10:13-15. 

VI. Conversion Promised. 

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, 
which shall stand for an ensign of the people; 
to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be 
glorious. — Is. 11:10. 

I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, 
that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of 
the earth. — Is. 49:6. 

O Lord, my strength and my fortress, and my 
refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall 
come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and 
shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, 
vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. — 
Jer. 16:19. 



THE BIBLEJ COMPANION 131 

Turning to And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and 
God. I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained 

mercy; and I will say to them which were not my 
people Thou art my people; and they shall say, 
Thou art my God.— Hos. 2:23. 
Offering For, from the rising of the sun, even to the 

Incense. going down of the same, my name shall be great 
among the Gentiles; and in every place incense 
shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offer- 
ing: for my name shall be great among the 
heathen, saith the lord of hosts — Mai. 1:11. 
Fulness For I would not, brethren, that ye should be 

to come in. ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise 
in your own conceits, that blindness in part is 
happened unto Israel until the fulness of the Gen- 
tiles be come in. — Rom. 11:25. 
"All After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, 

nations." which no man could number, of all nations, and 
kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before 
the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with 
white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried 
with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our God 
which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 
And all the angels stood round about the throne, 
and about the elders and the four beasts, and 
fell before the throne on their faces, and wor- 
shipped God, saying. Amen: Blessing, and glory, 
and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and 
power, and might, be unto our God for ever and 
ever. — Rev. 7:9-12. 

38. MISSIONARY STUDY. 

The Christian religion, the love of God in the heart, is 
not selfish; it is essentially and pre-eminently unselfish. We 
see this perfectly in God's gift of his Son, and in the whole 
suffering life and sacrificial death of Jesus. No one can see 
and receive Christ as his Savior without wanting to see others 
saved. It is the first and most natural impulse of every new 
born soul to desire and seek the salvation of others. If we 



132 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

have lost this desire we have got away from our first love, 
and need to pray for its return, 

"Return, O holy Dove, return. 
Sweet Messenger of rest! 
I hate the sins that made thee mourn, 
And drove thee from my breast." 

The Holy Spirit shedding God's love abroad in our hearts 
is the power that makes us all missionary. Before the day of 
Pentecost, the disciples, though converted, cared little for the 
rest of the world, thought little of any but their own little 
Jewish family. Their prayer in deed if not in word was the 
one we now sometimes hear spoken of, "Lord, bless me and 
my wife, my son John and his wife, us four and no more. 
Amen." If we are only thinking of and working for those 
near around us, we are praying this prayer in action, and 
are like the disciples before the Holy Spirit came upon them. 
After the coming of the Blessed One, the Comforter, upon 
them, they were ready to go everywhere preaching the gospel 
to everyone, and they did to the ends of the then known 
world. If we are not doing this in our generation it is because 
we have lost this all prevailing motive, the power of the 
Spirit and the love of God, and we need to pray for this 
double power anew and put ourselves by consecration where 
we may be able to receive the power. Let a native convert 
from heathenism reprove our indifference: 

A band of missionaries and native teachers spent a night 
on Darnley island, when a project was formed to establish a 
mission on Murray island. Some of the natives (like some 
Christians and others here) seemed especially intent on in- 
timidating the teachers, and convincing them that the new 
mission was perfectly hopeless. "There are alligators there," 
said they, "and snakes and centipedes." "Hold!" said Tepeso, 
one of the teachers, "Are there men there?" "Oh, yes," was 
the reply, "there are men; but they are such dreadful savages 
that there is no use of your thinking of living among them." 
"That will do," responded Tepeso. "Wherever there are men, 
missionaries are bound to go!" 

This is God's thought, feeling and plan, and the spirit of 
the new awakening that is stirring the Christian world, is a 
little of the old Pentecostal power. Does any one want to be 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



133 



counted out? We need to remember that the gospel has 
been brought to us by missionaries or we would be unsaved, 
in heathen darkness, the same as the millions beyond the sea. 
As we are reaping what others have sown with sacrifice of 
time and labor and prayer and money and life, we are under 
obligation, to transmit the blessings to those farther on. 
"Have you found the heavenly light? 

Pass it on, Pass it on! 
Souls are groping in the night, 

Day-light gone, day-light gone! 
Hold your lighted lamp on high, 
Be a star in some one's sky. 
He may live who else would die. 
Pass it on, pass it on!" 
Let us read these Scriptures, think of the blessings of 
the gospel we enjoy, remember they were not "given for us 
alone," and do our part in sending the gospel to the heathen, 
bringing hope to the hopeless. 

Old The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the 

eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the 
earth shall see the salvation of our God. — Is, 52:10. 
TestaiT'Cnt Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the 
teaching. glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, 
the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross dark- 
ness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon 
thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And 
the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to 
the brightness of thy rising. — Is. 60:1-3. 
Simeon Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in 

prophesies, peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have 
seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared be- 
fore the face of all people; a light to lighten the 
Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. — 
Lu. 2:29-32. 
The And that repentance and remission of sins 

"Great should be preached in his name among all nations, 

Commis- beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of 
sion." these things. And, behold, I send the promise of 

my Father upon you. — Lu. 24:47-49. 

All power is given unto me, in heaven and in 
earth. 



134 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Disobe- 
dience is 
treason. 
Power to 
do the 
"business 
of the 
King." 
How they 
did it. 

Spreading 
the "good 
news." 

Paul's 
work 



foretold. 

Paul's 
special 
commis- 
sion. 



Paul 
the first 
foreign 
missionary 



Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing 
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost— Matt. 28:18, 19. 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy 
Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses 
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in 
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 
—Acts 1:8. 

And with great power gave the apostles witness 
of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great 
grace was upon them all. — Acts 4:33. 

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went 
everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went 
down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ 
unto them. — Acts 8:4,5. 

But the Lord said unto him. Go thy way : for he 
is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name be- 
fore the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of 
Israel. — Acts 9:15. 

And he said unto me. Depart: for I will send 
thee far hence unto the Gentiles. — Acts 22:21. 

But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have 
appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee 
a minister and a witness both of these things 
which thou hast seen, and of those things in the 
which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee 
from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto 
whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and 
to turn them from darkness to light, and from 
the power of Satan unto God, that they may re- 
ceive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among 
them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 
—Acts. 26:16-18. 

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; 
there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, 
saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us. 
And after he had seen the vision, immediately 
he endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly 
gathering that the Lord had called us for to 
preach the gospel unto them. — Acts 16:9,10. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



135 



|H^ 



j^jSSIONA^V J^ 



CRIPPLED 





Which Wjll Yours Be 



MISSIONARY SYMBOLS. 

In connection with the last two studies, not as a separate 
study but rather as an illustration of those, it may help us all 
to look at these two pictures. The first is called "The Mis- 
sionary Hand" and represents the individual Christian in his 
attitude toward Christ and his kingdom in the world, seen in 
his giving or not giving to missions. It may also represent 
a church. The ^ open hand stands for an individual or a 
church that gives for the five objects. Foreign Missions, 
Home Missions, State Missions, Publication Society or gen- 
eral Sunday School work, and Christian Education. In the 
palm of this hand can be placed local or city missions if 
desired. Every denomination has lines of Christian work 
corresponding to these that this hand will illustrate. 

The closed hand represents those who hold for them- 
selves what God has entrusted to them of His silver and 
gold. They may give for the support of the local church but 
even that is largely for their own religious benefit. Their 
hand is closed to the great missionary work Christ has given 
His church to do. Churches die that way. "There is that 
withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." — 
Prov. 11:24. 

The Crippled Hand shows those who give something but 



136 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

not as cheerfully and as liberally as they should. They give 
to only one or two objects outside the local church. An 
offering from every member of the church for every object 
is needed in order that the coming of the Kingdom may be 
hastened. Have you cut off any of the objects named in the 
open hand? Look and see. 

The Open Hand tells its own story. It is the hand of the 
faithful steward of God having as large a share as possible in 
all the various departments of His work for the salvation of 
the world. He gives not as an owner, but as a steward 
administering a trust for God. As he opens his hand and 
gives, God more abundantly pours into his hand. Luke 6:38. 
God opens his hand to us; shall we close ours to Him? 

Which will your hand be? Which hand represents Christ? 
It is not hard to tell. We cannot think of Him shutting His 
hand to any of these great causes; He is interested in them 
all. In fact is not the open hand really the Christ hand? If 
we look closely can we not see the "print of a nail" there? 
Should not my hand be like his? If my hand is in His it 
will be like His will it not? We shut our eyes when we 
shut our hand. 



The' second picture, "The Star of Bethlehem," teaches the 
same lesson as the "Missionary Hand," only under a different 
figure. By a figure of speech Jesus is often spoken of under 
this title. It was prophesied "There shall come a Star out 
of Jacob," Num. 24:17, and Jesus says of himself, "I am the 
root and offspring of David, and the bright and morning star," 
Rev. 22:16, so this becomes especially a Christ picture. 

This picture represents again an individual or church giv- 
ing for all the objects, and local church and mission work 
can be placed in the center of the star if it is desired. The 
points of the star will then represent the outside work and 
show how far the light of the individual or church shines. 

If we give to one object, it is "a little ray;" if to two, it 
is "more light;" if to three, it is "shining brighter;" if to 
four, we are "growing like him;" if to all, then indeed our 
hand is in his, we are walking with him, working and shining 
as he did and told us to do. "Let your light so shine." If 
we neglect giving to all these outside objects, then our world 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



137 



light becomes totally eclipsed by our carelessness, or wilful 
disobedience, and we cease to be like Jesus, for he shone for 
all the world, and he wants to now, but he has to shine 
through us, and we won't let him; we hinder Christ from 
becoming "the light of the world." But if we only knew it, 
in refusing to shine for the world, we darken our own life. 
"Christ shines for all the world. I should be like him. Am I?" 
We are to be transmitters, not insulators of this "light of the 
world." 



^^ FOREIGN ^i 




PUBLICATION 
SOCIETY 



CHRIST SHINES FOR ALL THE WORLfr 
I SHOULD BE LIKE MIM 
AM I ? 



138 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



39. JUSTIFICATION. 

Conscious that we are full of sin by nature, and that 
even the redeemed are not perfectly free from it, absolutely 
pure and holy like God himself, the angels, or man before he 
fell, the question of Job, "How then can man be justified with 
God?" becomes as serious as the one Nicodemus asked of 
Christ in reply to his teaching about the new birth, "How can 
these things be?" 

The New Testament clearly teaches that man is justified, 
not actually in himself, but by proxy through another. Man 
could never be just, righteous, holy, sinless in himself, but 
God has promised if man will repent of his sin. and believe 
on Jesus Christ, that he will regard him as just, as just, 
righteous and holy as Jesus himself; that he will see man only 
in and through Jesus. By faith in the atoning work of Jesus, 
the perfect life or righteousness of Jesus is imputed to every 
one that so believes. This includes the pardon or forgive- 
ness of sins, God so completely forgiving all our past sins 
that they are "blotted out," "forgotten," "cast behind his 
back," "into the depths of the sea," and man is held by him 
as just, considered the same as though he never had sinned. 
With this pardon and justification comes also the promise 
of eternal life. 

Justification is purely and solely of faith and not of 
works in any way. "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh 
be justified." "Not of works, lest any man should boast." 
Paul and James are not in conflict. The only sense in which 
works can justify, or were said to do so by the latter Apostle, 
is as the result, fruit, evidence of justifying, saving faith. 
Bearing this in mind there is no difference between the two 
Apostles. Faith is the root, works the tree and fruit. If 
there is no fruit, the root must be wrong. Paul emphasizes 
one, James the other, like God's sovereignty and man's free 
agency, or like Peter preaching "repent," and Paul saying 
"believe" to awakened sinners inquiring the way to be saved. 
No conflict. Each emphasized the thing that his hearers 
especially needed to do. The Jews especially needed to re- 
pent, the jailor to believe. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 139 

"Justification by faith" was the great doctrine of the 
Reformation. The Roman Catholic church taught, and teaches 
still, that righteousness imputed by faith is not enough, that 
there is merit in works, that we are partly at least justified 
by works, and practically they made it almost entirely so, 
hence all their sacraments and elaborate ceremonial. Their 
mistake is in overemphasizing works, putting an erroneous 
emphasis upon them, making them the root rather than the 
fruit. If the faith is right the works will be right; the two 
go together, but only faith can justify and bring peace. 

It is related of Luther, and has been true of many others, 
that "No matter how much he studied and prayed, no matter 
how severely he castigated himself with fasting and watching, 
he found no peace to his soul. Even when he imagined that 
he had satisfied the law, he often despaired of getting rid of 
his sins and of securing the grace of God. One day wishing 
to obtain an indulgence promised by the Pope to all who 
should ascend on their knees what is called Pilate's stair- 
case, he was humbly creeping up those steps, when he thought 
he heard a voice of thunder crying from the bottom of his 
heart, "The just shall live by faith." He arose in amazement 
shuddering at himself, ashamed of seeing to what a depth 
superstition had plunged him. He fled from the scene and 
place and went out to preach this great doctrine, with the 
peace in his heart he could never find before." 
Includes Much more then, being now justified by his 

blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

— Rom. 5:9. 
pardon But that ye may know that the Son of man hath 

and power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to 

cleansing, the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and 

go unto thy house. — Matt. 9:6. 
promise of And this is the promise that he hath promised 

us, even eternal life. — 1 J no. 2:25. 
eternal That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so 

life. might grace reign through righteousness unto 

eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. — Rom. 5:21. 
All He shall see of the travail of his soul, and 

shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my 

righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear 

their iniquities. — Is. 53 : 1 1 . 



140 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



secured 

in 
Christ. 



All 



to and for 



believers, 



by 



faith, 

imputing 
not sin, 



but 
righteous- 
ness 
to us. 

The fruits: 
Peace, 



Being justified freely by his grace through the 
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God 
hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith 
in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the 
remission of sins that are past, through the for- 
bearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his 
righteousness: that he might be just, and the 
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. — Rom.. 
3:24-26. 

And by him all that believe are justified from 
all things, from which ye could not be justified 
by the law of Moses. — Acts 13:39. 

Knowing that a man is not justified by the 
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
even we have believed in Jesus, that we might 
be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the 
works of the law; for by the works of the law 
shall no flesh be justified. — Gal, 2:16. 

There is therefore now no condemnation to 
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after 
the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the 
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free 
from the law of sin and death. — Rom. 8:1,2. 

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on 
him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted 
for righteousness. — Rom. 4:5. 

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified 
by faith without the deeds of the law.— Rom. 3:28. 
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the 
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses 
unto them; and hath committed unto us the word 
of reconciliation. — 2 Cor. 5:19. 

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that 
it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom 
it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that 
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. — Rom. 
4:23,24. 

Therefore being justified by faith, we have 
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 
Rom. 5:1. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 141 

Joy. And not only so, but we also joy in God through 

our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now re- 
ceived the atonement. — Rom. 5:11. 

40. CHILDREN AND SALVATION. 

We have seen how men and women are saved through 
repentance and faith, bringing them justification, pardon 
and eternal life, a state of most blessed peace and favor with 
God, insuring every blessing needful for time and eternity, 
but how about the children? Are they saved? or will they 
be saved? When? How? These are questions we all, espe- 
cially parents, are interested in. This study will give light, 
help to answer the questions, perhaps do so to the satisfac- 
tion of all. 

Mot much is said in the Scriptures about the salvation 
of intants, but that little is in favor of the doctrine. David 
said of his dead child, more than an infant in age, perhaps, 
but presumably quite young, "I shall go to him." Jesus tooii 
quite small children m his arms and blessed them, saying, 
"Of such is the liingdom of heaven." The great Apostie 
says, "As by the disobedience of one (Adam) many were 
made sinners; so by the obedience of one (Christ) many 
shall be made righteous." How many were made sinners? 
All. How many will be made righteous? All. This teaches 
the universal salvation of infants, not of adults. God helps 
the helpless, the little ones that have never gone contrary to 
his will. But as they grow older and consciously disobey 
God, they become accountable, and must repent and believe 
to be saved. God has two ways of salvation, the conditional 
and unconditional. Infants are saved unconditionally, that is, 
by no condition on their part, by the merit of Christ 's death 
alone. Adults are saved conditionally, that is, having con- 
sciously sinned, and even the heathen are conscious of this, 
they must as consciously repent and believe to be saved. In 
this we see the fairness, righteousness, justice of God. Exer- 
cising our wills in disobeying God, we must as surely exercise 
our wills in believing. And when our wills by sin have be-, 
come completely perverted, we will thank and praise God for- 
ever for his grace that makes us willing. 



142 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

When do children become accountable, at what age? 
This perhaps no one can tell but God, but certainly quite 
young, much younger than many are willing to believe. Two 
reasons for failing to recognize the early accountability of 
children: First, we would naturally like to keep them saved 
as long as possible, so that if death should come to them 
early we may feel that they are safe. Second, to escape or 
throw off our own responsibility in giving them early relig;- 
ious instruction and trying to lead them early to Christ. As 
a penalty for this neglect, many parents will undoubtedly be 
sadly disappointed in the end. Few if any children of ordin- 
ary intelligence in these days are not accountable at six, 
seven or eight years of age, many of them even younger. No 
greater responsibility rests upon parents than right here. 

The early conversion of children is to be earnestly prayed 
for and sought by parents, teacher and pastor, especially the 
parents. Children are their priceless jewels, and they may 
lose them, let them slip through their fingers, or they may 
become stars in some one else's crown instead of the parent's. 
Here another penalty for their careless ease ana neglect. 
Satan as a roaring lion is snatching from the blind, uncon- 
scious parents their jewels, tearing and devouring them be- 
fore their very eyes and they go on in their indifference. 

"Call the children early father, (mother) 
While the dew is on; 

Great the work that must be done 
Before the morning's gone. 

Call them round the altar bright 
On which burns devotion's light. 

Call the children early, teacher — 

To their wondering eyes, 
Every Sabbath day set forth 

The Pearl of richest price. 
Call them early to the Lord; 

Thou Shalt reap a rich reward. 

Call the children early, shepherd, 

Give the lambs thy care; 
See that they are folded safe 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 143 

Within the house of prayer. 
Call them at the dawn of day, 

Lead them in the narrow way." 
Four appealing reasons for seeking the early conversion 
of children: 

1. They may die. Even children themselves have real- 
ized this, as one said to his teacher who had refused to teach 
him divine truths because he was too young to understand 
such sacred things, "But, master, I have been to the cemetery 
and measured the graves there and some of them are shorter 
than I am tall; what if I should die without learning the 
way of life?" 

2. They may be converted young. Not a few date their 
conversion as early as four or five years of age, and have 
led faithful lives. Most people are converted under twenty 
years of age. In a great meeting where over 500 were con- 
verted, by actual count, five were under five years of age; 
from five to ten, 25; from ten to twelve, 50; from twelve to 
sixteen, 350; from sixteen to twenty, 50; from twenty to 
twenty-five, 20, only a few of older years. These figures 
would be duplicated in almost any great meeting. 

3. They escape many evils. If what Mrs. Sigourney has 
written of early death is true, 

"It must be sweet, in childhood, to give back 
The spirit to its Maker; ere the heart 
Has grown familiar with the paths of sin, 
And sown, to garner up its bitter fruits," 
how much more beautiful in early childhood to give the 
heart to God while it is young and tender, before it has be- 
come acquainted with all the ways of sin. And how much 
easier and safer it is. Early childhood is the golden oppor- 
tunity for parents and teachers. Save them before they reach 
the maelstrom of life, where the swirl of the world's busi- 
ness and pleasure sinks so many or casts them out as wrecks 
on the shore. Get them early converted, train them, and they 
will have some Christian character established, and be strong 
enough to meet the "winds of temptation and billows of woe," 
that come later. 

4. A child saved is worth more than an older person. 
The writer once had a boy and a man converted the same 



144 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



day in a meeting. The boy was eight, the man sixty-eight 
years of age. Suppose both had lived to be seventy-five. The 
man would give seven years to the service of God, the poorest 
and feeblest years of his life. The boy would have sixty- 
seven of the best and strongest years to give. Take a dozen 
such. The old persons would give eighty-four weak years. 
The younger ones 804 strong, blessed years. It is good to 
see the old converted, but the young have a great advantage 
in the value of their lives. 

Commands: Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord 
Old thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days 

Testament, may be prolonged, and that it may go well with 
thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth 
thee. — Deut. 5:16. 
New Children, obey your parents in all things: for 

Testament, this is well pleasing unto the Lord. — Col. 3:20. 
Disrespect And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and 

punished. as he was going up by the way, there came forth 
little children out of the city, and mocked him, 
and said unto him. Go up, thou bald head; go up, 
thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked 
on them, and cursed them in the name of the 
Lord. And there came forth two she bears out 
of the wood, and tare fifty and two children of 
them. — 2 Kings 2:23, 24. 
Child Even a child is known by his doings, whether 

sinners. his work be pure, and whether it be right. — Prov. 
20:11. 

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; 
but the rod of correction will drive it far from 
him. — Prov. 22:15. 

The rod and reproof give -wisdom: but a child 
left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. — 
Prov. 29:15. 

Train up a child in the way he should go; and 



Train them. 



Command 

and 
training. 



when he is old, he will not depart from it. — 
Prov. 22:6. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for 
this is right. Honor thy father and mother; 
which is the first commandment with promise; 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



145 



Timothy. 



May be 
converted, 



Then 

praise 

God. 



Precept 

and 
Promise. 



Precept 

and 
Prayer. 



that it may be well with thee and thou mayest 
live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke 
not your children to wrath: but bring them up 
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. — ■ 
Eph. 6:1-4. 

And that from a child thou hast known the 
Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise 
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ 
Jesus. — 2 Tim. 3:15. 

Then were brought unto him little children, 
that he should put his hands on them, and pray; 
and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said. 
Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to 
come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of 
heaven.— [VI att. 1 9 : 1 3, 1 4. 

And when the chief priests and scribes saw 
the wonderful things that he did, and the children 
crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the 
Son of David; they were sore displeased. — IVlatt. 
21:15. 

Both young men and maidens; old men and 
children; let them praise the name of the Lord: 
for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above 
the earth and heaven. — Ps. 148:12,13. 

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy 
youth, while the evil days come not, nor the 
years draw nigh in which thou shalt say, I have 
no pleasure in them. — Ecci. 12:1. 

I love them that love me; and those that seek 
me early shall find me. — Prov. 8:17. 

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 
Amen. — 1 J no. 5:21. 

Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me. 
My father, thou art the guide of my youth? — 
Jer. 3:4. 



10 



146 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



41. SANCTIFICATION, OR BIBLE HOLINESS. 

The Bible says plainly that "without holiness no man 
shall see the Lord." And that holiness must be absolute 
and perfect, as perfect as God himself. No sin can ever 
enter heaven. Again, conscious of our sin, w© are con- 
strained to ask, "Who then can be saved?" How is it pos- 
sible for sinful man to be as sinless as the holy God? Of 
himself man can never be holy, else Christ would not have 
needed to come and live and suffer and die for him. The 
best men that have ever lived have not felt that they were 
holy. Indeed the better men have become the more they 
have realized their imperfections. The better men are, 
the worse they are. The better they are absolutely, the 
worse they are relatively. The higher up they get, the nearer 
they come to God, the more they are able to see and realize 
his infinite holiness and purity, and the more sinful and 
imperfect their own lives appear to them. Paul said, "Jesus 
came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 

Perfect holiness, or sinlessness comes from perfect 
obedience to the Word of God, and man has never rendered 
this, does not, and never will. For any one to claim "sinless 
perrection" in himself, , reveals a low conception of God's 
purity, of the requirements of his Word, a small measure of 
conscientiousness, and a low standard of Christian living. 
We can all be "perfect" if we put the standard low enough. 
But tne standard is not variable as our conception of moral 
and spiritual things, but absolute and invariable, and very 
high, even as the Word of God. We must all measure up 
with that perfectly. If we fail in the least jot or tittle, we 
will be weighed and found wanting and so shut out forever. 
If we offend in one point we are guilty of all. James 2:10. 
We shall all be weighed and measured by the Word. This 
cuts off all hope for the moralist, the self-righteous, and all 
who are trusting in the perfectness of their obedience, for 
only one Man has ever obeyed the Word of God with absolute 
precision and perfection, the Man Christ Jesus. 

Who then indeed can be saved? Only those who believe 
fully in Jesus, trust not at all in themselves, in their obedi- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 147 

ence, but completely in Christ's finished work. If we so 
believe and trust, God will transfer his perfect obedience to 
our account. Christ becomes our surety. We have obeyed 
the law perfectly in and through Jesus. On our faith God 
imputes his perfect righteousness to us. Here then is our 
holiness, and it is perfect, for it is Jesus himself, and this is 
our only hope of heaven. 

If then, we are saved, not by what we have done because 
it is imperfect, but by what Christ has done for us, because 
it is perfect, may we live and do as we please, be careless 
about our conduct, because we are saved any way and it 
won't make any difference? Not at all; we will not want 
to. The truly regenerate soul, the one that has fully believed 
on Jesus doesn't want to sin. It is "a new creature," "old 
things have passed away, all things have become new." "We 
love what we once hated, and we hate what we once loved." 
Though because of our ignorance, weakness, the power of 
the world and the temptations of Satan, we may sometimes, 
perhaps often, even daily, sin, it is not because we want to, 
and it is our sorrow and grief when we do. The saving faith 
that imputes Christ's righteousness to us, in which we stand 
perfect, accepted and justified, also imparts a new nature to 
us, we are made "partakers of the divine nature," "born of 
God." And if we are born of God we must and will be like 
him. He hates sin and we must. And if we hate sin we 
will be ever watching and praying and striving against it. If 
we love sin we are not fit for heaven. 

A pious military officer, desirous to ascertain what were 
the real feelings and views of a dying soldier, whom he had 
been instrumental in bringing to the truth, said, "William, I 
am going to ask you a strange question. Suppose you could 
carry your sins with you to heaven, would that satisfy you?" 
The poor dying lad replied, with a most affecting smile, 
"WTiy, sir, what sort of a heaven would that be to me? I 
would be just like a pig in a parlor." The Holy Spirit hates 
sin, and when we are "born of the Spirit," he takes up His 
abode in our hearts, and then we will hate sin too, especially 
in ourselves where it will be most clearly revealed. And 
when under the power and presence of the Spirit we really 
come to hate sin, we are pretty safe, for we shall not easilv 



148 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

go into or do that which we really hate. 

The word sanctify in Scripture has four uses or applica- 
tions; one of God, one of things and two of man. Of the two 
senses in which it applies to man, the first, which is being 
set apart for the service of God, is perfect on God's part 
at our regeneration and adoption. But the second, which is 
a changed and holy nature, is only begun in regeneration, and 
being dependent in a measure on our human weakness, blind- 
ness and ignorance, can never be perfect in this life; yet 
we should not be satisfied -^ith any present attainment and 
cannot really please God without a continual striving for more 
of the divine likeness. This part of sanctification is pro- 
gressive, and will be according to the degree of our con- 
secration and obedience. 

Remembering the two-fold nature of the child of God, 
human and divine, and that the human is still sinful in its 
nature and tendency, though after regeneration sin's power 
is broken so it can no longer rule and reign as before; and 
that the divine is God and absolutely sinless, such seemingly 
conflicting passages as I John 1:8, 10 and 3:6,8,9 and all 
others of similar character are clear and easily understood. 
First: And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the 

set apart congregation, and the altar; I will sanctify also 
for service, both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in 

the priest's office. — Ex. 29:44. 

And for their sakes I sanctify myself. — J no. 

17:19. 
Second: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great 

changed and precious promises; that by these ye might 
and holy be partakers of the divine nature, having es- 
nature. caped the corruption that is in the world through 

lust.— 2 Pet. 1:4. 

For we are made partakers of Christ. — Heb. 

3:14. 

That we might be partakers of his holiness. — 

Heb. 12:10. 
Holiness Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father 

enjoined. which is in heaven is perfect. — Matt. 5:48. 
Perfect But as he which hath called you is holy, so be 

standard ye holy in all manner of conversation; because 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



149 



set before 
us. 



Begun in 
regener- 
ation. 

Pro- 
gressive. 



Holy 
Spirit 
working 
in us 



By the 
Word. 



By pastors 

and 

teaciiers. 



it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. — 1 Pet. 
1:15, 16. 

And the very God of peace sanctify you whol- 
ly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul 
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Thess. 5:23. 

And such were some of you: but ye are 
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified 
in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit 
of our God. — 1 Cor. 6:11. 

But the path of the just is as the shining light, 
that shineth more and more unto the perfect 
day.— Prov. 4:18. 

But we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase 
more and more. — 1 Thess. 4:10. 
Seven Steps. 

(To neglect these and fancy we are holy and 
sinless is like the ostrich with its head in the 
sand, thinking it is safe from the hunter.) 

1. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always 
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much 
more in my absence, work out your own salvation 
with fear and trembling: for it is God whicli 
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good 
pleasure. — Phil. 2:12,13. 

2. As new born babes, desire the sincere milk 
of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. — 1 Pet, 
2:2. 

Now ye are clean through the word which I 
have spoken unto you. — J no. 15:3. 

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is 
truth.— J no. 17:17. 

3. For the perfecting of the saints, for the 
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body 
of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the 
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 
stature of the fulness of Christ.— Eph. 4:12,13. 
with all perseverance and supplication for all 

4. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the 



150 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Self- faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your 

exam in- own selves, how that Christ is in you, except 

atlon. ye be reprobates? — 2 Cor. 13:5. 
Self- 5. And he said to them all, if any man will 

denial. come after me, let him deny himself, and take 

up his cross daily, and follow me. — Luke 9:23. 
Prayer. 6. 7. Praying always with all prayer and sup- 
Watchful- plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto 
ness. with all perseverence and supplication for all 
All of saints.— Eph. 6:18. 

Christ and But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of 

Perfect God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, 

In Him. and sanctification and redemption. — 1 Cor. 1:30. 

42. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. 

This doctrine is sometimes called the "Preservation of 
the Saints." Both phrases are true. "Preservation" is 
God's part; "Perseverance" is our part. We would fail in 
our part, but God will never fail in his part. By his pre- 
serving grace he comes to our rescue and enables us to 
persevere. "For it is God which worketh in you both to 
will and to do of his good pleasure." 

There are some earnest, honest souls who cannot under- 
stand and get hold of this blessed doctrine. The words of 
God in this study may help such. They will shake their 
heads at the old saying, "Once in grace, always in grace," 
and even argue strongly for the possibility of "falling from 
grace," or what they call "apostasy." They believe that a 
person may be a regenerated, saved child of God, an heir of 
heaven one day, and the next day fall away and be lost 
forever. What advantage or benefit there can be in such 
a belief it is hard to see. What comfort is there in such 
a thought? Why be so anxious to entertain and prove it? 
Belief in such apostasy is disbelief in the power and truth 
of God. Will such disbelief in God please him and promote 
our own growth in grace? 

Those who believe in this kind of apostasy give two 
reasons: 1. The experience of some who have professed 
religion; 2. Some passages of Scripture that seem to teach 
it. On the first it is enough to say it is "judging according 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 151 

to appearance," and we know this is no good ground, for 
"appearances are often deceiving," Many have been con- 
sistent even earnest members of the churcn, and some have 
even preached with sincerity and effect, and yet were not 
Christians at all, as they have afterwards realized and con- 
fessed when they have been really converted. A real Chris- 
tion, may "backslide" by neglecting duty, may do things not 
right, but he will repent and come back like Peter. If a 
professing Christian falls away and dies in sin and wicked- 
ness it is certain that he was never really converted. Apos- 
tasy properly speaking can be true only of mere professors 
of religion, not of real Christians. A backslider is a real 
Christian. The two words apply to two different classes, 
the one to formal, the other to real Christians. 

On the second point, the teaching of the Scriptures, it is 
enough to know that all the plain, positive and unequivocal 
teaching of the Bible is in favor of the perseverance of the 
saints. Apostasy (of believers) rests in every instance on 
obscure, doubtful, or conditional passages; in parables or 
subjunctive forms of expression, and it is never wise to follow 
obscure and reject plain teaching. The texts usually cited 
in support of the apostasy of believers will be found on close 
study to apply first to mere professors of religion, second, 
some to backsliders, and third, others to the sin against the 
Holy Ghost. 

The loss of the apostasy theory is very great in many 
ways. It holds out little encouragement for a sinner to seek 
salvation, for why seek long and earnestly for something he 
may lose the next day or week? And this uncertainty leads 
to much experimenting, "making a start," "trying it for a 
while," which is not God's method of grace at all, but leads 
to trusting in self rather than trusting in Jesus. It puts the 
soul in perpetual doubt as to whether it is saved or not, 
and keeps it in continual fear if it is saved that it may be 
lost at last, and such a condition is not conducive to growth 
or best service. 

Three distinct evils come of the apostasy error: 1. It 
practically destroys the doctrine of regeneration, making 
salvation more a matter of reformation: 2. It unites faith 
and works as the ground of salvation. God will save us "if 



152 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

we" keep in tiie way. And this compels the third evil; 3. 
The "sinless perfection" error, since if they sin, and the 
first time they sin, they are lost. Therefore they must pro- 
fess not to sin, a contradiction and confusion, for their 
conscience tells them they do. If this apostasy doctrine 
be true how much sin would it take to be lost forever? 
One? two? ten? a hundred? One must do it; no line can be 
drawn. One sin ruined our first parents and one would 
destroy the soul now. Therefore to have any peace or as- 
surance at all men must profess what they do not possess, 
sinlessness. Shutting our eyes, not seeing sin, is not ceasing 
to sin, or a very good way to keep from it; it is really a good 
way to get into it. 

"Perseverance of the saints" has many and great ad- 
vantages: First, it is according to the plain teaching of thp 
word, as this study will show, and gets us out of the mists of 
error. 

Second, it brings blessed peace and comfort, freeing the 
soul from fear, and so fitting for fullest service. 

Third, such assurance and trust in God begets love and 
makes service easy. 

Fourth, it makes religion so precious that it is worth 
seeking diligently for, Christ, the Pearl of great price, worth 
selling all that we have to possess. 

Fifth, it is the end logically and Scripturally of regener- 
ation, adoption and justification. 

God can regenerate, adopt and justify but once. If a 
child of God could become a child of the devil, there could 
be no hope, for we can be born but once. The apostasy 
idea has reformation and not regeneration as its genesis. 
"Vve can be reformed often, but only re-born once. Get the 
right full idea of regeneration, a new birth, a son of God, a 
divine and infinitely higher order of being than man was 
first created, and all is clear. A soul "born of God" is part 
God, and God cannot lose himself. Beware of making little- 
of the fundamental doctrine of regeneration; it is the key 
to all this. May God help us all to get true views on all these 
questions. 

The great I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from 

safety cf whence cometh my help. My help cometh from 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



153 



the godly. 



"Preserve 
thy soul." 



''Not cast 
out." 

"Everlast- 
ing" means 
everlast- 
ing. 

"Never 
perish." 

Nothing 
separate. 



"God 
faithful." 
Why not 
believe 
this? 

"Fear not. 



"Able to 
keep." 



the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He 
will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that 
keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that 
keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 
The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade 
upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite 
thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord 
shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall pre- 
serve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy go- 
ing out and thy coming in from this time forth, 
and even for evermore. — Ps. 121. 

All that the Father giveth me shall come to 
me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise 
cast out. — J no. 6:37. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth 
on me hath everlasting life. — J no. 6:47. 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 
and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal 
life; and they shall never perish, neither shall 
any man pluck them out of my hand. — J no. 10: 
27, 28. 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor 
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, 
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to 
separate us from the love of God, which is in 
Christ Jesus our Lord. — Rom. 8:38,39. 

There hath no temptation taken you but such 
as is common to man: but God is faithful, who 
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye 
are able; but will with the temptation also make 
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear 
it.— 1 Cor. 10:13. 

Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dis- 
mayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; 
yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with 
the right hand of my righteousness. — Is. 41:10. 

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from 
fallfng, and to r reserve you faultless before the 
presence of his glory with exceeding joy; — 
Jude 24. 



154 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

"Never Let your conversation be without covetous- 

leave." ness; and be ye content with such things as ye 

have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, 
nor forsake thee. — Heb. 13:5. 
"Grace And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient 

sufficient." for thee: for my strength is made perfect in 
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather 
glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ 
may rest upon me. — 2 Cor. 12:9. 
Beginning Being confident of this very thing, that he 

and which hath begun a good work in you will per- 

fi-nishing. form it until the day of Jesus Christ. — Pliil. 1:6. 
Able, For the which cause I also suffer these things: 

willing nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know whom 

and I have believed, and am persuaded that he is 

faithful able to keep that which I have committed unto 

to keep. him against that day. — 2 Tim. 1:12. 
"Save to Wherefore he is able also to save them, to 

the the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing 

uttermost." he ever liveth to make intercession for them. — 

Heb. 7:25. 
Study this For if, when we were enemies, we were re- 

"much conciled to God by the death of his Son; much 

more." more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by 

his life.— Rom. 5:10. 
"Faithful Wherefore, let them that suffer according to 

Creator." the will of God commit the keeping of their souls 
to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. — 
1 Pet. 4:19. 

(By the side of the above clear, positive, 
declarative Scriptures, place the following sub- 
junctive expressions, not one saying a true child 
of God can be lost; take your choice, and enter 
into doubt and fear, or peace and rest.) 
"If." But Christ as a son over his own house; whose 

house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and 
the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. — 
Heb. 3:6. 
"If." For if after they have escaped the pollutions 

of the world through the knowledge of the Lord 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



155 



"If." 
Trusting 
In his own 
righteous- 
ness. 
"Lest," 



"Lest," 



"Lest. 



and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled 
therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse 
with them than the beginning. (See Matt. 12: 
43-45.)— 2 Pet. 2:20. 

When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall 
surely live; if he trust in his own righteousness, 
and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall 
not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he 
hath committed, he shall die for it. — Ezek. 33:13, 

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of 
you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from 
the living God.— Heb. 3:12. 

For if God spared not the natural branches, 
take heed lest he also spare not thee. — Rom. 11 :21. 

But I keep under my body, and bring it into 
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have 
preached to others, I myself should be a cast- 
away. — 1 Cor. 9:27. 

(Paul had no fear of the loss of his soul, but 
of his life work being worthless, castaway, value- 
less coin, mere "wood, hay and stubble," unless 
he disciplined his body. The clue to the right 
understanding of all the other texts above, and 
all other similar texts, has already been given. 
The doctrine of the "perseverance of the saints" 
does not encourage sin. If any one feels like 
sinning because he is saved, he has reason to 
doubt that he is saved. Let us get the truth, 
rejoice and be strong in it, live and teach it.) 



156 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Doctrinal Relations. 

A brief but comprehensive outline view of some of the 
most important teachings of the Word that we have studied 
may be suggestive and helpful to many. 

{Father ^ 

Son I Bible and Salvation. 

Holy Spirit J 
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one, and this unity is 
seen in God's giving us the one Bible, revealing his one 
plan of salvation for the world. 






Gjyi^^^AAMiZ't^jurvLd (^ — ;: (XcLrUyOu<n^ y JOfu*L&6. mev€iar>€LuLjtiJ ^ htvuno£ t£<Mf 



't± 



t.aZ*Ac<3uti 



■ccajL4.rtt^l 




Seven is a Bible number denoting completeness, perfec- 
tion, and in the above seven teachings concerning the salva- 
tion of man, we find a remarkable relation, harmony and 
unity. Repentance and faith are always put first in the 
Bible order and lead to the other five, yet all seven, in point 
of time when genuine or true, may be said to be simultaneous. 
1 ne three central teachings are complete, never repeated, and 
never half done. We cannot be half regenerated, half adopted 
or half justified. They are wholly God's work. These three 
and the complete element in each of the other four have 
their issue in eternal life, the end God has in view for man's 
everlasting welfare and happiness. In repentance, faith, par- 
don and sanctification there are two elements, one completely 
finished when we are genuinely converted, but another ele- 
ment in each that is to continue as long as we live on earth. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 157 

We can never repent unto life again, but we need to repent 
of daily sins. We can never believe again to the saving of 
our souls, but we need to exercise Christian faith to the 
end. We can never have our past sins re-pardoned, but we 
need to pray daily, "Forgive us our debts." God has sancti- 
fied us "once for all," but we need to consecrate ourselves 
daily. See this in the next study. 

43. CONSECRATION. 

Consecration is man's part of sanctification, and con- 
sists in giving ourselves and all we have wholly to God for 
his service and use, not in theory only but in reality, our 
lives fully surrendered to him. This of ourselves in sin we 
could not do. But by His grace through the new nature 
imparted to and implanted in us at our conversion we may 
so consecrate ourselves. Yet this may not be without earnest 
effort on our part. We must diligently and persistently seek 
in prayer God's grace and submit to his guidance. 

When we were converted our consecration was complete, 
we gave ourselves to God without any reserve. We said, 
"Here, Lord, I give myself to thee," and with our persons 
went all our possessions, and God saved us. If there had 
been any thing that we had been unwilling to give up or take 
up, the Lord by his Spirit would have shown it to us, as Jesus 
showed the young ruler his idol, and like him if we had not 
surrendered we would not have been saved. At our conver- 
sion all sin was cast out of our lives and forsaken by us; we 
gladly confessed Christ and took up our cross following him 
in willing service, our hearts filled with love and peace and 
joy in believing. But after a while by neglecting duty, ceasing 
to watch and pray and work, many take back much of their 
time, labor and means they had once consecrated to God, be- 
come backslidden in heart, lose most of their joy and peace, 
and have little or no power or inclination for service. Such 
need to come back to God in confession and re-consecration. 

Mr. Beard drew a picture of a converted soul out of 
which sin had been cast or "evicted." Out of the door of this 
"House of Man soul" had been cast bottles and boxes and 
bundles and barrels of sin, falsehood, pride, envy, meanness, 



158 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

lust, vanities, intemperance, self-righteousness, self-indulgence, 
etc., etc., and the devil was sitting there waiting to get all 
his baggage back into the house again as soon as the door 
was opened. He succeeds in getting much of his luggage 
back into many Christian hearts, to their great sorrow and 
loss for time and eternity. The devil is very cunning about 
his work. He will destroy the soul if he. can by hindering it 
from accepting Christ, but when the grace of God triumphs 
and the soul surrenders to Jesus and is saved, the devil still 
pursues. He only left our Savior "for a season." He dogs 
the steps of the Christian all through his life to the end, 
Indeed he is far more persistent in tempting the Christian 
than he is in tempting the sinner. Satan is usually content 
to let the sinner alone as long as he is satisfied in his sin. 
It is only when he tries to come to God that the sinner feels 
the power of Satan. The devil knows he cannot get the soul 
of a true child of God. In six thousand years he has never 
got one out of the hand of God. Jesus said he could not and 
would not. Why then should he be so persistent? For two 
reasons : 

1. The devil hates God and the children of God because 
they are his children, and when he cannot rob them of their 
souls, he is determined to rob them of their heavenly treasure. 
He does this by keeping them out of all the duty he can and 
in all the sin he can. He robs and wounds them as cruelly as 
the man that fell among thieves on the road to Jericho. Jesus 
is the "good Samaritan" ready to help the sin-wounded, Satan- 
bruised soul, if the soul will seek and trust his nlinistry. 

2. The worse he can get Christians to live, the more he 
can keep sinners from coming to Christ. He cannot destroy 
the Christians' souls, but he can destroy other souls through 
their inconsistent lives. The devil has been working at this 
for six thousand years. It is his best weapon for destroying 
souls; hence his persistence in tempting Christians. Every 
where the unsaved are saying, and they are kept from com- 
ing to Christ by saying it, that there are so many "hypocrites 
in the church." They would not do what they see so many 
professing Christians do. Every unconsecrated Christian is 
helping the devil to destroy souls, more than helping Jesus to 
save souls, and losing eternal treasure besides. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 159 

The only safe life for the Christian is in his perfect con- 
secration. So he may resist and defeat the devil, please God, 
and bless his own soul. If God has grace enough to enable 
the sinner to surrender and consecrate his life to God at first, 
he has grace enough to enable him to live the surrendered, 
fully consecrated life continually to the end. 
God's part, For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy 

God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a 
special people unto himself, above all people 
that are upon the face of the earth. — Deut. 7:6. 
Choosing Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them 

us, before Aaron the priest, that they may minister 

unto him. — Nuir.-.. 3:6. 
Man's Therefore also I have lent him unto the Lord; 

as long as he liveth he shall be lent unto the Lc-rd. 
—1 Sam. 1:28. 
part, He shall separate himself from wine and 

strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, 
or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink 
any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or 
dried. — Num. 6:3. 
giving Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man 

himself. shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, 
both of man and of beast, and of the field of his 
possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every de- 
voted thing is most holy unto the Lord. — Lev. 
27:28. 
God's part. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest- 

hood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that 
ye should show forth the praises of him who 
hath called you out of darkness into his mar- 
velous light. — 1 Pet. 2:9. 
Our part. For Moses had said. Consecrate yourselves to 

day to the Lord, even every man upon his 
son and upon his brother; that he may bestow 
upon you a blessing this day. — Ex. 32:29. 
New I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the 

Testament, mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a 
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which 
is your reasonable service. — Rom. 12:1. 



160 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



The What! know ye not that your body is the 

reason. temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which 

ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For 

ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God 

in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

—1 Cor. 6:19,20. 
Service, The gold for things of gold, and the silver for 

silver, things of silver, and for all manner of work to be 

made by the hands of artificers. And who then 

is willing to consecrate his service this day unto 

the Lord?— 1 Chron. 29:5. 
gold, • But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of 

vessels. brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: 

they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. — 

Josh. 6:19. 

Results But the children of Israel committed a tres- 

of pass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of 

disobe- Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zera, of the 

dience: tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and 

the anger of the Lord was kindled against the 

children of Israel. — Josh. 7:1. 
defeat, So there went up thither of the people about 

three thousand men; and they fled before the 

men of Ai. — Josh. 7:4. 
death. And Joshua said. Why hast thou troubled us? 

the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all 

Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them 

with fire, after they had stoned them with 

stones. — Josh. 7:25. 

44. GROWING IN GRACE. 



There can be no growth in grace until there is a life in 
grace, that is, only a true child of God can grow in 
grace. "Put a dry stick into the ground and dress and water 
it as much as you will, it will continue the same until it rot; 
but set a living plant by the side of it, and though much less 
at first, yet it soon begins to shoot, and in time becomes a 
wide, spreading tree." But where there is even life there can 
be little or no growth without carefully observing and follow- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 161 

ing the laws of growth. There are living plants that are so 
wesik and dwarfed that there is no beauty or strength, useful- 
ness or satisfaction in them. There are laws of growth for 
plants and there are laws of growth for souls in the spiritual 
life, and this study, in seven sections, will point out some of: 
these laws. Note especially the seven steps in the fourth 
section. 

The truth of the last study is essential as a beginning 
for this. It is largely or entirely wasting words to talk ot 
"growing in grace" to an unconsecrated Christian, where no 
earnest desire to grow exists. But where there is a real 
'Tiungering and thirsting after righteousness" there is hope 
of growth and progress, for, as a hungry man will make some 
effort to find the food that will satisfy his hunger, so the 
spiritually hungry will seek to satisfy the soul's longing by 
using the "means of grace" for "growth in grace." If we are 
not growing in grace we are shrinking in it. It is hardly pos- 
sible for a living thing to stand perfectly still. It has been 
truly said of a Christian, that he is like a man on a bicycle: 
he must go on, or he will soon go off. Note who may grow, 
to what point, that grace is promised, that the work is pro- 
gressive, and carried on by seven definite acts. Neglect 
these steps and no soul can grow. Follow them and by the 
power of God's Spirit and his assisting grace every soul may 
grow very graciously. 

I. Enjoined. 
The But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of 

command, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. — 2 Pet. 3:18. 

II. Grace Promised. 
Grace And God is able to make all grace abound 

make us toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency 
able. in all things, may abound to every good work. — 

2 Cor. 9:8. 

And he said unto me. My grace is sufficient 

for thee. — 2 Cor. 12:9. 

III. A Progressive Work. 
"More and But the path of the just is as the shining light, 

more." that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

Prov. 4:18. 
Healthy That we henceforth be no more children, 

11 



162 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every 
grow. wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cun- 

ning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to de- 
ceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow 
up into him in all things, which is the head, 
even Christ. — Eph. 4:14, 15. 

IV. Seven Steps. 
Reading 1. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that 

the Bible, hear the words of this prophecy, and l^eep those 
things which are written therein: for the time is 
at hand. — Rev. 1:3. 
Meditation, 2. Meditate upon these things; give thyself 
wholly to them ; that thy profitting may appear to 
all.— 1 Tim. 4: 15. 
Association, 3. We took sweet counsel together, and walk- 
ed unto the house of God in company. — Ps. 55:14. 
Public 4. Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves 

vyorship, together, as the manner of some is; but exhort- 
ing one another: and so much the more, as ye 
see the day approaching. — Heb. 10:25. 
Prayer, 5. Let us therefore come boldly unto the 

throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and 
find grace to help in time of need. — Heb. 4:16. 
Exercise, 6. For I say unto you. That unto every one 

that hath shall be given; and from him that hath 
not, even that he hath shall be taken away from 
- him. — Luke 19:26. 

Abstinence. 7. Abstain from all appearance of evil. — ; 
1 Thess. 5:22. 

V. Who May Grow. 
The Grace be with all them that love our Lord 

loving and Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. — Eph. 6:24. 
humble. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he 

saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace 
unto the humble. — Jas. 4:6. 

VI. To What Point. 
Jesus: Not as though I had already attained, either 

His were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I 

kingdom may apprehend that for which also I am appre- 
and service bended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 163 

first in our myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I 

hearts. do, forgetting those things which are behind, and 

reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus.— Phil. 3:12-14. 
VII. Benediction. 

Grace, first The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with 

and last. you all. Amen. — Rev. 22:21. 

45. AMUSEMENTS. 

As the most who are ever saved are saved in young life, 
this subject is perhaps the greatest hindrance to the salva- 
tion of souls and their growth in the Christian life of any 
thing in the world. The commercialism of this age, the 
money-mania that has seized almost all classes keeps many 
middle aged and older people from being saved, but if it 
had not been for the love of pleasure many of these might 
have been saved before the love of riches got such a hold upon 
them. Business and money-getting keeps many older people 
from being saved and many more who are saved from grow- 
ing in grace as they should. But if the love of money has 
"slain its thousands," the love of pleasure, the amusement 
craze of this age, is slaying its tens of thousands. Not only, 
the young are beside themselves with regard to worldly 
amusements, but a multitude of the older people seem little 
less infatuated by them. 

It is necessary that we should have, perhaps, some 
recreation. But part of this necessity arises from the inten- 
sity with which we give ourselves to the world's business. 
The extreme of business calls for the extreme of pleasure 
and we have two wrongs. If we would be more temperate 
in our business we could be more temperate in our amuse- 
ments. Moderately engaging in business or amusement, both 
of the right kind, is not wrong. The immoderate indulgence 
of either is where the wTong comes to ourselves and others. 
As there are some lines of business that are absolutely wrong, 
ought not to be engaged in at all, so there are some lines 
of pleasure not to be thought of. 

May we know what amusements are allowable? Yes; 
but for the Christian, especially one who wishes to be a 



164 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

consecrated Christian, wishes to really grow in grace, the 
line Will naturally be closer drawn than for the outside world. 
There are many things the world may do that the earnest 
Christian should not do. This need not hinder the earnest 
Christian or deter one who is not a Christian from taking 
up the cross, for the gain will be much greater than the 
loss as the next study will show. The earnest, consecfated 
growing Christian will soon cease to desire many of tho 
world's pleasures. It may be an effort at first, but the 
greater joy that comes in the more faithful following of Christ 
will far more than compensate for all the self denial. 

What might be considered right or wrong amusements? 
Anything that would be a transgression of the decalogue, 
murder, adultery, theft, lying, drunkenness, profanity, dis- 
honoring parents, either in the letter or the spirit, or things 
that will lead to such sins, will not be thought of. That seven 
we will cut out clear. But here is another seven: drinking, 
(intoxicants), tobacco, cards and gambling, theater, dance, 
Sabbath desecration, bad books. Not one of these in any 
form can we indulge in if we want to be consecrated, growing 
Christians, and anyone who will become such a Christian 
will soon cease to want them in the least. Many professing 
Christians do all of these in greater or lesser degree, but they 
are not the most useful or happy Christians, or ever will be, 
if they are Christians at all, and there will always be this 
tormenting, haunting "if." 

But how about these ten? Circus, street fairs, ten cent 
shows, novels, ball games, checkers, dominoes, flinch, authors, 
tennis, etc., and many more similar amusements. Perhaps 
none of these are essentially sinful and yet they may all be 
harmful. Some games as intellectual recreation, or physical 
exercise, any consecrated Christian might engage in. Our 
doing so should depend entirely on the influence of the game 
on us, and the influence of our example over others. Very 
few if any of these will the earnest Christian care anything 
about as he grows more and more into the likeness of Jesus. 
And he will suffer no sense of loss in giving these up. He will 
find so much richer and sweeter pleasure in the friendship, 
company and service of Jesus, that he simply will not want 
the worldly things; he will have outgrown them. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 165 

The motlier of John Wesley was a wise woman and she 
gave to him this rule of life: "Whatever weakens your rea- 
son, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures 
your sense of God, or takes off the relish for spiritual things, 
— that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in 
itself." Whatever makes us take less interest in our Bible, 
in prayer and Christ's service, we may be sure is not good 
for us. Music, especially Christian song, social gatherings, 
reading good books and papers, all religious meetings, good 
reading and lecture courses, and things of like character, will 
satisfy most if not all earnest souls in the way of amuse- 
ment and recreation. 

Vanity. I said in mine heart. Go to now, I will prove 

thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, 
behold, this also is vanity. — Eccl. 2:1. 
Waste And not many days after the younger son 

Isrings gathered all together, and took his journey into 

want. a far country, and there wasted his substance with 

riotous living. — Lu. 15:13. 
"God said." And I will say unto my soul. Soul, thou hast 
much goods laid up for many years; take thine 
ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto 
him. Thou fool. — Lu. 12:19,20, 

Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. — 
2 Tim. 3:4. 
Blasting And that which fell among thorns are they, 

life. which, when they have heard, go forth, and are 

choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this 
life, and bring no fruit to perfection. — Lu. 8:14. 
Living But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while 

death. she liveth. — 1 Tim. 5:6. 

Consider Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let 

the end. thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, 

and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the 

sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all 

these things God will bring thee into judgment. — 

Eccl. 11:9. 

Sowing Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for what- 

and soever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For 

reaping, he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap 



166 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall 

of the Spirit reap life everlasting. — Gal. 6:7, 8. 

The By faith Moses, when he was come to years, 

"better refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daugh- 

part." ter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the 

people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin 

for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ, 

greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he 

had respect unto the recompense of the reward. 

—Heb. 11:24-26. 

''Will It And he said unto them. Verily I say unto you, 

pay?" There is no man that hath left house, or parents, 

or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom 

of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more 

in this present time, and in the world to come life 

everlasting. — Lu. 18:29,30. Mary hath chosen that 

good part, which shall not be taken away from 

her. — Lu. 10:42. 

46. FOLLOWING JESUS. 

Jesus is the "Good Shepherd." Those who truly believe 
in him are called his "sheep." He said to one of his sheep, 
"Follow me," and he says of all his true sheep, "My sheep 
hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me." If 
this word is true, it surely gets all of God's children in an 
exceedingly close place. If it is true, without any qualifi- 
cation, what must we conclude about those Christians, young 
or old, who dance, play cards, go to the theater, or do any 
of those questionable things spoken of in our last study? 
Only three conclusions are possible: FIRST, that Jesus 
would do all those things, and we are following him in doing 
them. But this is imjpossible', unthinkable. Jesus would 
cease to be a Savior to us if we could think of him doing 
as the world does. SECOND, that we are not his sheep if we 
do those things, for Jesus would not do them, and we would 
not be following him, and he says his sheep do follow him. 
THIRD, a kind of mixed proposition; that we follow him 
Bometimes, in some things and in some places, but in these 
doubtful or sinful things we are following the world. .This 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 167 

may be the explanation, but is it not an unspeakably sad 
solution? unsatisfying to ourselves and dishonoring to him. 
Such a mixed following has never pleased God, and there is 
great danger to ourselves and to others in it. When we 
engage in these worldly things with great interest, alacrity 
and zest, and go reluctantly in the path of Christian duty 
following Jesus, does it not show that our hearts are really 
in the world? Our life proves that we Icve the world more 
than Jesus, no matter what our lips may say, and God 
says, "If any man love the world, the love of the Father 
is not in him." 

Jesus says we are to be "the light of the world," and that 
we are to let our light so shine before men that they may 
see our good works, not our worldly works, and so they may 
be led to glorify God. By engaging in these worldly pleasures 
we are shedding the world's light and not the light of God. 
Our worldly light shines brighter and farther to the world 
than our Christian light. Our world light totally eclipses 
our Christ light. The light we are shedding is real darkness, 
a false beacon light, luring souls to destruction. We will 
find in the end that these worldly things have cost us an 
awful price; that "this world's empty glory, is costing us too 
dear." 

How can we follow Jesus? He is our example. We are 
to think, speak and do as he did as nearly as we can, to follow 
in his footsteps, and these footsteps are clearly seen in the 
New Testament, so clearly that none of us need to be in 
any doubt, if we search there carefully. Through snow or 
mud we have often walked in the footsteps of othfers. Jesus 
walked through snow and mud of the world; the one would 
not, the other could not defile him, and will not us if we 
walk as he walked. Children and all of us follow in the 
footsteps of parents or others. Hence the danger of going 
in sinful and worldly ways. We are all setting and following 
examples. 

We can walk in the footsteps of others when we can see 
them, in the day light, but not in the dark. Can we see the 
footsteps of Jesus? Yes; if we will receive the light and 
walk in it. There is natural light and spiritual light, natural 
light for natural walking and spiritual light for spiritual 



Id8 THE PJBLE COMPANION 

wajking, and therp is a great difference between them. 
Natural light is external and shines on all alike. Spiritual 
light is internal and shines only on those who are willing 
to receive it. Two side by side may be in the same full 
natural light, but while one has the beautiful light of God 
in hjs soul the other may be in total darkness, as the children 
of Israel and the Egyptians at one time, and God now expects 
the one who has the heavenly light to let it so shine, un- 
obscured by clouds of worldly things, that the one in dark- 
ness may be brought into the light. As the natural sunlight 
floods and fills the world, so the spiritual light of God floods 
and would fill souls, if they were not insulated by selfishness 
and unbelief, and the way Christians let their light shine will 
have much to do with the light reaching the souls of the 
unsaved; our worldly lives make their insulation of unbelief 
more complete. 

There are a hundred footsteps of Jesus for us to follow 
that will make us to be light to all around us, but the seven 
given here are especially worthy of our attention, and if 
these are followed, in a general way they will enable us 
to follow all the others; note them: faith, trust, obedience, 
purity, love, humility, self-denial. The Holy Spirit will 
show us these footsteps of Jesus in the Word and help us 
to walk in them. Without the Holy Spirit it would be im- 
possible for us to walk in them, and with but little of the 
Spirit they may seem hard steps, but with the fulness of 
the Spirit, and God has promised to give this fulness if we 
ask him, it will be easy and a great joy to us and make us a 
great blessing to others. 

Perhaps no one of these steps will be harder than the 
last one, and yet when taken it is the most blessed one of 
all. It is the heart of the matter. We do not want self- 
denial but self-indulgence. We want to have our own way, 
go where we please and do as we please. The surrender, 
giving up our own way and the worldly things is a little hard 
at first, but when done brings great peace and blessing. 

The following poem by George MacDonald illustrates this 
struggle with self and the final victory very beautifully: 

I said, "Let me walk in the fields;" 

He said, "Nay, walk in the town;" 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 169 

I said, "There are no flowers there;" 
He said, "No, flowers, but a crown." 

I said, "But the sky is black, 
There is nothing but noise and din;" 
But He wept as He sent me back — 
"There is more," He said, "there is sin." 

I said, "But the air is thick 
And fogs are veiling the sun;" 
He answered, "Yet souls are sick, 
And souls in the dark undone." 

I said, "I shall miss the light, 
And friends will miss me, they say;" 
He answered me, "Choose tonight 
If I am to miss you, or they." 

I pleaded for time to be given; 
/ He said, "Is it hard to decide? 

t It will not seem hard in heaven 

To have followed the steps of your guide." 

I cast one look at the fields, 

Then set my face to the town; 

He said, "My child, do you yield? 

Will you leave the flowers for the crown?" 

Then into his hand went mine, 
And into my heart came he, 
And I walked in a light divine 
The path I had feared to see." 

The flowers of ease and worldly pleasure we are gather- 
ing and w^eaving into a crown for ourselves will soon fade 
and the crown perish, but the crown Jesus will give, though 
it be a crown of thorns to begin with, (he wore the thorn- 
crown first,) will be transmuted, transformed into a golden 
crown of glory at last, every thorn point a diamond brighter 
than shines in the diadem of any earthly king. "It will not 
seem hard in heaven." Will it not pay to be real sheep, faith- 
fully following Jesus? 



170 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Faith. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is 

the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 

he hath sent. — J no. 6:29. 
Trust. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, 

if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of 

God— Matt. 27:43. 

Though he slay me, yet will I trust him. — 

Job 13:15. 
Obedience. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine 

own will, but the will of him that sent me. — J no. 

6:38. 

And being found in fashion as a man, he 

humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, 

even the death of the cross. — Phil. 2:8. 
Purity. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall 

see God. — IVIatt. 5:8. 

Keep thyself pure. — 1 Tim. 5:22. 
Love. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but 

that he loved us, and sent his Son to ,be the 

propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so 

loved us, we ought also to love one another. — 

1 Jno. 4:10,11. 
Humility. After that he poureth water into a basin, and 

began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe 

them with the towel wherewith he was girded. — 

Jno. 13:5. 

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, 

and he shall lift you up. — J as. 4:10. 
Self-denial. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he 

became poor, that ye through his poverty might 

be rich.— 2 Cor. 8:9. 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples. If any 

man will come after me, let him deny himself, 

and take up his cross and follow me. — IVIatt. 16:24. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 171 



47. THE CHURCH. 



Our English word church is taken from the Greek word 
Ekklesia. In all the literature of the world at the time the 
New Testament was written there was no word exactly de- 
noting such a body as Jesus intended his followers to be 
organized into, but this word Ekklesia came the nearest to 
representing such a body, and hence he used it, adapting it 
with one or two slight changes, which changes he has clearly 
indicated in the gospels and epistles. If he had not used this 
word it would have been necessary for him to coin an en- 
tirely new word, which might have been much harder to 
understand than this. To unaerstand "church" we must un- 
derstand this Greek word from which it is taken. 

Ekklesia was the regular, lawful assembly in a free 
Greek City. These "free cities" in the Roman Empire were 
free, really little independent democracies, neither mon- 
archies or aristocracies. Each one was left to manage its 
own affairs, without any regard to other cities, or any inter- 
ference from the government at Rome, so long at least as 
they were not disloyal to that government. 

The word church taken from this Greek word is used 
with three meanings or applications: First, the heathen 
sense,, mentioned above, meaning a regular, lawful, orderly 
civil assembly, possessing certain rights, well defined, not all 
the people, the same word, Ekklesia, translated in three in- 
stances "assembly," and in all other cases "church." "Some 
therefore cried one thing and some another; for the assem- 
bly (Ekklesia) was confused." "But if ye inquire anything 
concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful 
assembly (Ekklesia)." "And when he had thus spoken he 
dismissed the assembly (Ekklesia)." Acts 19:32,39,41. All 
the people gathered together would be a crowd or mob, and 
the word "oklos," not "Ekklesia," would be used. 

Second, the Jewish sense, meaning the Jewish nation, 
natural or proselyte, but all circumcised; definite and certain 
qualifications and rights: "This is he, that was in the 
church (Ekklesia) in the wilderness," Acts 7:38. "Saying, I 
will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the 



172 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



church (Ekklesia) will I sing praise unto thee," — Heb. 2:12. 

Third, the Christian sense, taken from and like the 
others, used all through the New Testament. Ekklesia, or 
church, is used 115 times; 110 times in the Christian sense, 
3 in the heathen and 2 times in the Jewish (see above). Of 
the one hundred and ten times used in a Christian sense, 90 
times it means a visible, local, organized body of Christian 
believers, and this is the ordinary, primary and literal sig- 
nificance of the word. The other 20 times means the churcU 
in its universal character, or aggregation of local churches, 
yet never once as a confederation, hierarchy or oligarchy. 
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the 
church (Ekklesia), and gave himself for it." — Eph. 5:25. 

Five points of comparison of the two words will help to a 
clearer understanding of our subject. 

Ekklesia. Church. 

1. A definitely organized 1. A definitely organized 
civil body or assembly in a Christian body. 



free Greek city. 

2. Entirely independent of 
every other civil authority or 
power. 



2. Entirely independent of 
any other civil or ecclesiasti- 
cal authority or power. 



3. Consisted of a definitely 
summoned and called out 
number of members from the 
city, and duly qualified. 



4. These members pos- 
sessed certain definite qualifi- 
cations: they must be males 
of age and citizens; not wo- 
men or children, or slaves or 
the common populace. 



5. The members possessed 
certain rights and privileges: 
choose their officers and en- 
act laws for their govern- 
ment. 



3. Consists of members 
very definitely called out 
from the world, duly quali- 
fied, and elected to member- 
ship by the voice of the 
church. 

4. The members possess 
definite qualifications: they 
must have believed on and 
confessed Christ, been regen- 
erated; give evidence of a 
changed life, in being bap- 
tized, and following Jesus in 
good works; they may be 
men, women or even children, 
if old enough to believe. 

5. The members have cer- 
tain rights and privileges: 
Choose their own officers, 
and make rules and regula- 
tions touching minor matters 
affecting each local body; 
their constitution and general 
laws affecting all bodies alike 
found in the Bible and espe- 
cially in the New Testament. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 173 

By this comparison it will be seen that the Ekklesia and 
the church are practically identical in the first three points, 
remembering that the first was a secular and the latter is a 
spiritual body. In the fourth point there is an enlargement of 
the church, admitting a much larger range of membership, 
while in the fifth point there is an abridgement of privilege, 
in that the church may not enact fundamental or general 
laws, these being already given in the Bible. It will be no- 
ticed that this difference between the church and the 
Ekklesia, this enlargement and abridgement, Jesus has him- 
self made. We have no right to make any change where he 
has not made it. In no essential element of the Ekklesia 
have we any right whatever to make a change, to expand or 
contract. 

By a careful reading of the seven sections of the follow- 
ing Bible study of the church, these seven characteristics of 
the church will appear: 

1. It is composed of professed believers, baptized on pro- 
fession of their faith, and acting with perfect voluntariness. 
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it 
Is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the 
charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 
so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for 
your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribula- 
tions that ye endure." 2 Thess. 1:3,4. "And Philip said, If 
thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest (be baptized). 
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the 
Son of God." Acts 8:37. Then Philip baptized him. "And 
Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the 
Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hear- 
ing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8. 

2. It is a local independent body. "I wrote unto the 
church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence 
among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, If I come, I will 
remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with 
malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he 
himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, 
and casteth them out." 3 John 9, 10. No popes or other 
fiaighty church dignitaries. 

3. It has power to receive and exclude members and to 



E BIBLE COMPANION 

dp business for Chrisc. "Him that is weak in the faith re- 
ceive ye, but not to doubtful ^disputations." Rom. 14:1. "A 
man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, 
reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, 
being condemned of himself." Titus 3:10,11. "As they min- 
istered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate 
me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called 
them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their 
hands on them, they sent them away." Acts 13:2, 3. 

4. It holds the fundamental doctrines of the gospel. 
"Only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of 
Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I 
may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, 
with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." 
Phil. 1:27. 

5. It has had a continued existence. "And I say unto 
thee. That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my 
church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." 
Matt. 16:18. 

6. It was never apostate. "They went out from us, but 
they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would 
no doubt have continued with us : but they went out, that 
they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." 

1 John 2:19. 

7. It has never persecuted. In all the New Testament 
there is not a single thought of compelling members in by 
force, driving them out, or burning heretics for forsaking 
the faith. "In meekness instructing those that oppose them- 
selves * * * that they may recover themselves out of the 
snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." 

2 Tim. 2:25,26. 

Jesus is himself the foundation of the church, the Rock 
on which it is built, and it had its beginning while he was in 
the world, in his twelve disciples and the one hundred and 
twenty gathered together in Jerusalem at the time of his 
ascension. It was a church in most essential features, preach- 
ing the Word, baptizing, teaching and transacting business for 
the Lord. On the day of Pentecost it was greatly enlarged 
but was not yet complete, having no deacons and being little 
more than a Jewish church. The first members had no idea 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



175 



that the gospel was to be preached to all the world, or that 
the Gentiles were to come into the church. In the sixth chap- 
ter of Acts we have the deacons chosen, in the tenth the 
Gentile pentecost in the house of Cornelius, Peter from his 
vision and this incident learning the full meaning of the gos- 
pel. In the thirteenth chapter of Acts the evolution of the 
church seems about complete, as the apostles are sent forth 
on their first great missionary tour, thus carrying out the 
great mission of the church. 

I. \lndependent. 
"Churches," Then had the churches rest throughout all 

Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; 

and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the 

comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. — 

Acts 9:31. 

And so were the churches established in the 

faith, and increased in number daily. — Acts 16:5. 
or And all the brethren which are with me, unto 

the churches of Galatia. — Gal. 1:2. 
"Church," The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and 

Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the 

church that is in their house. — 1 Cor. 16:19. 

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the 

grace of God bestowed on the churches of. Mace- 
donia. — 2 Cor. 8:1. 
but no And when this epistle is read among you, 

cause that it be read also in the church of the 

Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle 

from; Laodicea. — Col. 4:16. 
federation. And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our 

fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house.— 

Philemon 2. 

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which 

is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea. 

— Rom. 16:1. 

II. A Definite Body. 
Church at Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the 

Thessa- church of the Thessalonians in God our Father 

lonica. and the Lord Jesus Christ. — 2 Thess. 1:1. 

Any And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it 



176 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



church. 



Church 

at 
Jerusalem. 



Any local 
church. 



Antloch. 

Church 

at 
Corinth. 

Ephesus. 

All defin- 
ite bbdies. 



Our 
example. 

Following. 
Command, 
obeyed. 



unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the 
church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man 
and a publican. — Matt. 18:17. 

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And 
at that time there was a great persecution against 
the church which was at Jerusalem: and they 
w6re all scattered abroad throughout the regions 
of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. — 
Acts 8:1. 

If therefore the whole church be come to- 
gether into one place, and all speak with tongues, 
and there cohie in those that are unlearned, or 
unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? — 
1 Cor. 14:23. 

Now there were in the church that was at 
Antioch ^certain prophets and teachers. — Acts 13:1. 

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to 
them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to 
be saints, with all that in every place call upon 
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. — 1 Cor. 1:2. 

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write. 
—Rev. 2:1. 

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna 
wHte. — Rev. 2:8. 

And to the angel of the chureh in Pergamos 
write. — Rev. 2:12. 

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira 
tvrite. — ReV. 2:18. 

III. Baptized Believers. 

And it came to pass in those days, that Jestis 
came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized 
of John in Jordan. — Mark 1:9. 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man 
will come after me, let him deny himself, and 
take up his cross, and follow me. — Matt. 16:24. 

Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, bap- 
tizing them in the name of the Father, and of 
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost— Matt. 28:19. 

Then they that gladly received his word were 
baptized: and the same day there were added 



THE BIBIiE COMPANION 



177 



unto them about three thousand souls. — Acts 2:41. 

IV. Joined, Associated, Continuing in Feiiowslilp. 
Fellowship. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' 

doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of breads 

and in prayers.— Acts 2:42. 
Together. These all continued with one accord in prayer 

and supplication, with the women, and Mary the 

mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. — Acta 

1:14. 
"One And when the day of Pentecost was fully 

accord." come, they were ail with one accord in one place. 

—Acts 2:1. 
Unity. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit 

in the bond of peace. — Eph. 4:3. 
No Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of 

divisions, our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the 

same thing, and that there be no divisions among 

you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in 

the same mind and in the same/ judgment. — 

1 Cor. 1:10. 
Walking Nevertheless, whereto we have already at- 

tog ether. tained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind 

the same thing. — Phil. 3:16. 
Dissenters Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which 
not cause divisions and offences contrary to the doc- 

allowed, trine which ye have learned; and avoid them. — 

Rom. 16:17. 

V. Keeping Christ's Ordinances. 
Ordin- Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember 

ances. me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as T 

delivered them- to you. — 1 Cor. 11:2. 
Traditions. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the 
(apostolic) traditions which ye have been taught, whether 

by word, or our epistle. — 2 Thess. 2:15. 
Remem- For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, 

bering. who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, 

who shall bring you into remembrance of my 

ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in 

every church. — 1 Cor. 4:17. 
The For I have received of the Lord that which also 



178 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

ordinances I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the 
kept. same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: 

and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and 
said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken 
for you: this do in remenibrance of me. After 
the same manner also he took the cup, when he 
had supped, saying, This cup is the new testa- 
ment in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink 
it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat 
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the 
Lord's death till he come. — 1 Cor. 11 : 23-26. 

When they heard this, they were baptized in 
the name of the Lord Jesus. — Acts 19:5. 
Corrupters For we are not as many, which corrupt the 
even then, word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in 
the sight of God speak we in Christ. — 2 Cor. 2:17. 
VI. Obeying Christ's Laws. 
Christ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against 

the only thee, go and tell him his fault between him and 
lawgiver. thee alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained 
"Bind" or thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then 
"loose" by take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth 
His Word, of two or three witnesses every word may be es* 
tablished. And if he shall neglect to hear them, 
tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear 
the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen 
man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, what- 
soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in 
heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth 
shall be loosed in heaven. — Matt. 18:15-18. 
Command- Teaching them to observe all things whatso- 

ed to ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with 

observe. you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

—Matt. 28:20. 
Obedience If ye love me, keep my commandments. — 

a test of Jno. 14:15. 

love. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth 

them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth 
me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love 
him, and will manifest myself unto him. — Jno. 
14:21. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



179 



Christ the 
foundation, 
and the 
Head. 



Pastors 

and 

deacons. 

Pastor. 



Pastor, or 
overseer. 



Deacons. 



And are built upon the foundation of the 
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being 
the chief cornerstone. — Eph. 2:20. 

And he is the head of the body, the church: 
who is the beginning, the first born from the 
dead, that in all things he might have the pre- 
eminence. — Col. 1:18. 

VII. Officers. 

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus 
Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which 
are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. — 
Phil. 1:1. 

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou 
shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, 
and ordain elders (pastors) in every city as I 
had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the hus- 
band of one wife, having faithful children not ac- 
cused of riot or unruly. For a bishop (pastor) 
must be blameless, as the steward of God; not 
self willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no 
striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of 
hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, 
temperate; holding fast the faithful word as 
he hath been taught, that he may be able by 
sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince 
the gainsayers. — Titus 1:5-9. 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, 
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pas- 
tors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, 
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of 
the body of Christ.— Eph. 4:11, 12. 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all 
the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you overseers, to feed the church of God, 
which he hath purchased with his own blood. — 
Acts 20:28. 

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not 
double-tongued, not given to much wine, not 
greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the 



180 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Pastors 
ordained. 



Deacons 
ordained. 



faith in a pure conscience. And let these also 
.first be proved; then let them use the office of a 
deacon, being found blameless. Even so must 
their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faith- 
ful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands 
of one wife, ruling their children and their own 
houses well. For they that have used the office 
of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good 
degree, and great boldness in the faith which is 
in Christ Jesus. — 1 Tim. 3:8-13. 

And when they had ordained them elders in 
every church, and had prayed with fasting, they 
commended them to the Lord, on whom they be- 
lieved. — Acts 14:23. 

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you 
seven men of honest report, full of the Holy 
Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over 
this business. But we will give ourselves con- 
tinually to prayer, and to the ministry of the 
word. And the saying pleased the whole multi- 
tude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith 
and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, 
and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and 
Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch; whom they set 
before the apostles: and when they had prayed, 
they laid their hands on them. — Acts 6:3-6. 



48. BAPTISM. 



We saw in the last study that Christ gave his church two 
ordinances, baptism and the Lord's supper. Much difference 
of opinion has existed concerning both of these ordinances, 
as to the meaning, mode and purpose of them. If, however, 
we come to the Bible alone as our guide we shall not find 
any difficulty in knowing what Christ intended in giving 
these ordinances. This study and the one following will 
make it quite plain. While the Scriptures make it plain, the 
following summary of ten points, two handfuls of truth, 
drawn from Scripture and history, will help to make this sub- 
ject of baptism yet plainer to all. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 181 

1. Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in 
water, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy 
Ghost. If any one is not clear about this the Scriptures cited 
will make it plain. Nothing else was practiced as baptism 
in the beginning. "Sprinkle" is not found once in the New 
Testament, "sprinkled" twice, "sprinkling" four times, "pour" 
three times, "poured" fourteen times, "pouring" once, and 
"poureth" once, but not one of these is ever mentioned 
in connection with baptism anywhere. This is a remarkable 
fact and should of itself be enough to satisfy every one. 
There were Greek words meaning sprinkle and pour, and if 
one of these words or any derivative from them had ever 
been used even once in speaking of baptism, we might be in 
some doubt, but when they are never so used, we can have 
no doubt at all. We cannot even think of those acts as bap- 
tism, from a Bible standpoint. 

2. The word baptize, from the Greek "baptize," means 
immerse. That is its first, primary, or standard meaning. 
All the Greek lexicons agree on this, and scholars universally 
admit it. English dictionaries may give different meanings. 
These often give an assumed meaning of a word, the mean- 
ing custom has attached to it. But we need to remember 
that this is not an English but a Greek word, and all the 
Greek lexicons agree that its original meaning is to "dip" 
or immerse. 

3. Every place where baptism is mentioned in the New 
Testament points to immersion, "in Jordan," "much water 
there," "went down both into the water," "come up out of 
the water," "buried with Him in baptism," and many more 
as will appear in this stifdy. 

4. The apostles and early church practiced this and 
nothing else. The real scholarship of the world now agree 
in this. Luther, Calvin and Wesley all say that Jesus was 
immersed. There is not a single case of baptism by asper- 
sion or affusion for more than two hundred years of the 
early history of the church, and then but once in the case of 
a sick man having water poured upon him in his bed. For 
thirteen hundred years immersion was the all but universal 
mode, and the Greek church has never practiced anything 
else. Immersion has the following four beautiful points of 
symbolism: 



182 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

5. It shows the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. 
This is the whole gospel, and every time a real baptism 

is performed, the gospel is preached in picture form, as an 
• ohject lesson. Jesus knew just what he wanted and gave us 
a form full of meaning. Sprinkling and pouring have no 
meaning. Or, if they have any meaning, it is negative, that 
Christ neither died, was buried, nor rose again. 

6. It shows our death to sin, burial to the old life and 
resurrection to a new life. A real baptism means as much 
of us as of Christ, and is a wonderful declaration of our 
purpose. Jesus intended it to show this, and we have no right 
to substitute something else without meaning. If sprinkling 
could have any meaning to us, it would mean that we want 
to die a little to sin, be buried a little to the old life, and 
that we mean to live the new life just a little. 

7. It shows the complete cleansing of the blood. Bap- 
tism does not cleanse from sin; the blood does that. Bap- 
tism shows outwardly what the blood has done inwardly. 
Sprinkling shows that we have been cleansed from sin only a 
very little. 

8. It shows or symbolizes the complete regenerating, re- 
newing work of the Holy Spirit. They were baptized in the 
Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost. (See Acts 1:5, R. V. 
margin). Sprinkling shows a very slight work of the Spirit, 
little more than a reformation. 

9. Christ set us the example in being immersed himself 
of John into Jordan. (See Mark 1:5, R. V. margin). 

10. Christ has commanded us to be baptized, or im- 
mersed. 

When we see how immersion fulfills all of our Savior's 
thought and purpose in this ordinance, and how far short of 
this sprinkling or pouring falls, it should not take any hon- 
est, earnest soul long to decide. Especially may this be true 
after reading the following Scriptures: 

(Sprinkle is not given for it is not used). 

"Sprinkled" iFor when Moses had spoken every precept to 

twice. all the people according to the law, he took the 

blood of calves and of goats, with water, and 

scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both <he 

book and all the people. — Heb. 9:19. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



183 



Never a 
baptism. 



"Sprink- 
ling" 

fourtimes, 



always 
blood. 



Pour," 



three 
times. 

Never 

meaning 

baptize. 

"Poured" 



14 times, 
mostly in 

Revelation, 



Let us draw near with a true heart in full as- 
surance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled 
from an evil conscience, and our bodies v.'^ashed 
with pure water. — Heb. 10:22. 

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the 
ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sancti- 
fieth to the purifying of the flesh. — Heb. 9:13. 

Through faith he kept the passover, and the 
sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroj'ed the 
first-born should touch them. — Heb. 11:28. 

And to Jesus the mediator of the new cove- 
nant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speak- 
eth better things than that of Abel. — Heb. 12:24. 

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God 
the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, 
unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of 
Jesus. — 1 Pet. 1:2. 

And it shall come to pass in the last days, 
saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all 
flesh. 

And on my servants and on my hand maidens 
I will pour out in those days of my Spirit. — Acts 
2:17,18. 

And I heard a great voice out of the temple 
saying to the seven angels. Go your ways, and 
pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the 
earth. — Rev. 16:1. 

Then came unto him a woman having an ala- 
baster box of very precious ointment, and poured 
it on his head as he sat at meat. — Matt. 26:7 

For in that she poured this ointment on my 
body, she did it for my burial. — iVIatt. 26:12. 

And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon 
the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman 
having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard 
very precious; and she broke the box and poured 
it on his head. — IVII<. 14:3. 

And poured out the changers' money, and over- 
threw the tables. — J no. 2:15. 

And they of the circumcision which believed 



184 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



used of 



baptism. 



"Pouring" 
once. 

''Poureth," 
once. 



"In 

Jordan." 
Jesus 
our 
example. 



Command- 
ed In the 
name of 
the 
Trinity. 



"Into 
Jordan. 



were astonished, as many as came with Peter, 
because that on the Gentiles also was poured out 
the gift of .the Holy Ghost.— Acts 10:45 

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath 
of God, which is poured out without mixture into 
the cup of his indignation. — Rev. 14:10. 

And he went to him, and bound up his wounds, 
pouring in oil and wine. — Lu. 10:34. 

After that he poureth water into a basin, and 
began to wash the disciples' feet. — J no. 13-5. 

(The word baptize in different forms is found 
about 80 times in all, about 30 or 35 times in this 
study.) 

And were baptized of him in Jordan confessing 
their sins. — Matt. 3:6. 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan 
unto John, to be baptized of him. But John for- 
bade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of 
thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answer- 
ing said unto him, Suffer it to be so now; for 
thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. 
Then he suffered him. And Jesus when he was 
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: 
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he 
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and 
lighting upon him.— Matt. 3:13-16. 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptiz- 
ing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
son; and of the Holy Ghost— Matt. 28:19. 

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach 
the baptism of repentance for the remission of 
sins. And there went out unto him all the land 
of Judea. And they of Jerusalem, and were all 
baptized of him into the river of Jordan, confess- 
ing their sins, (R. V. margin). — Mark 1:4,5. 

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus 
came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized 
of John into Jordan. And straightway coming up 
out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and 
the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. — 
Mark1:9, 10. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



185 



Import- 
ance of 
baptism 



"in water. 



Sent of 
God. 



"Much 
water." 



Jesus 
baptized. 



"In the 

Holy 

Ghost." 

Symbolic 

cleansing. 



No impos- 
sibility. 

Supposed 
he had 
faith. 



He that believeth and is baptized shall be 
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 
— Mk. 16:16. 

Now when all the people were baptized, it 
came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and 
praying, the heaven was opened. — Lu. 3:21. 

John answered them, saying, I baptize in (R. 
V. margin) water: but there standeth one among 
you, whom ye know not. — J no. 1:26. 

These things were done in Bethabara beyond 
Jordan, where John was baptizing. — Jno. 1:28. 

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to 
baptize in water (R. V. margin), the same said 
unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit 
descending, and remaining on him, the same is he 
which baptizeth in the Holy Ghost. — Jno. 1:33. 

After these things came Jesus and his dis- 
ciples into the land of Judea; and there be tarried 
with them and baptized. And John also was bap- 
tizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was 
much water there; and they came and were bap- 
tized. — Jno. 3:22,23. 

When therefore the Lord knew how the 
Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and bap- 
tized more disciples than John, (though Jesus 
himself baptized not but his disciples). — Jno. 4: 
1,2. 

For John truly baptized in water; but ye shall 
be baptized in the Holy Ghost not many days 
hence. (R. V. margin). — Acts 1:5. 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be 
baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus 
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall re- 
ceive the gift of the Holy Ghost.— Acts 2:38. 

Then they that gladly received his word were 
baptized: and the same day there were added 
unto them about three thousand souls. — Acts 2:41. 

But when they believed Phillip preaching the 
things concerning the kingdom of God, and the 
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both 



186 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



"both into." 



Paul. 



Lydia. 



No infants, 

all 

believed. 



No Infants 
baptized. 



Re- 
baptized. 
Why tarry? 
Figurative 
washing. 
Baptism 
a figure. 



"Buried. 



Baptism 



men and women. Then Simon himself believed 
also; and when he was baptized, he continued 
with Phillip, and wondered, beholding the mir- 
acles and signs which were done. — Acts 8:12, 13. 

And he commanded his chariot to stand still: 
and they went down both into the water, both 
Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. — 
Acts 8:38. 

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it 
had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, 
and arose, and was baptized. — Acts 9:18. 

And when she was baptized, and her household, 
she besought us, saying. If ye have judged me to 
be faithful to the Lord, Come into my house and 
abide there. And she constrained us. — Acts 16:15. 

And he took them the same hour of the night, 
and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and 
all his, straightway. And when he had brought 
them into his house, he set meat before them, and 
rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.— 
Acts 16:33,34. 

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, 
believed on the Lord with all his house; and 
many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and 
were baptized. — Acts 18:8. . 

When they heard this, they were baptized in 
the name of the Lord Jesus. — Acts 19:5. 

And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be 
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the 
name of the Lord. — Acts 22:16. 

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 
also now save us, (not the putting away of the 
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good con- 
science toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ— 1 Pet. 3:21. 

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye 
are risen with him through the faith of the opera- 
tion of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 
—Col. 2:12. 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were bap- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



187 



a 
symbol 
of death, 
burial and 
resurrec- 
tion. 



Seven 
"ones" 
all one. 



tized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his 
death? Therefore we are buried with him by bap- 
tism into death: that lilte as Christ was raised up 
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so 
we also should walk in newness of life. For if we 
have been planted together in the likeness of his 
death, we shall be also in the likeness of his 
resurrection. — Rom. 6:3-5. 

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye 
are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord 
one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, 
who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 
— Eph. 4:4-6. 
Who may be And Philip said. If thou believest with all 
baptized? thine heart, thou mayest . And he answered and 
said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
—Acts 8:37. 

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house*** 
And (he) was baptized. — Acts 1:31,33. 

And Jesus answering said unto him. Suffer it 
to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all 
righteousness. Then he suffered him. — Matt. 3:15. 

Then they that gladly received his word were 
baptized. — Acts 2:41. 

And he received sight forthwith, and arose, 
and was baptized. — Acts 9:18. 

And he saith unto them. Follow me, and I 
will make you fishers of men. — Matt 4:19. 

But the Lord said unto him. Go thy way: for 
he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name 
before the Gentiles and kings, and the children 
of Israel. — Acts 9:15. 

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an 
apostle, separated unto the gospel of God. — 
Rom 1:1. 

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen 
you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring 
forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. 
—J no. 15:16. 



Believers. 



Who may 
baptize? 
Those who 
have been 
baptized. 
Paul. 



Chosen 

ones: The 

disciples, 

Paul. 

Ordained: 

Paul, 

Disciples, 



188 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

fimothy. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was 

given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the 
hands of the presbytery. — Tim. 4:14. 

And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid 
their hands on them, they sent them away.— Acts 
13:3. 

49. THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

The ordinances Christ gave his church, baptism and 
the Lord's supper, are very important, but we must be care- 
ful not to attach more importance to them than he did him- 
self, for in so doing we may pervert into a real curse what 
he intended as a great blessing. Both ordinances are to be 
observed in his way and not in our own way; we are neither 
to add to them, take away anything from them, nor sub- 
stitute something else in their place. 

To make the ordinances saving sacraments, as millions 
in the world have believed and done, is to utterly pervert the 
whole plan of gospel teaching in regard to salvation. We 
have already seen that salvation is of grace through faith 
and not of works at all. Millions have believed that bap- 
tism saves and that we cannot be saved without it, and the 
same of the Lord's supper. So far is this false view from the 
truth, that no one has any right to be baptized or to partake 
of the supper who has not been saved. They belong in the 
church and are for the saved, and never for the unsaved. 

If they do not save us, some one may say, "Then why be so 
particular about them?" Because, if we are saved, we love 
Christ, and he says, "If ye love me ye will keep my com- 
mandments." We keep them because we love him, and want 
to do them in his way, as he taught us and set us the example. 
To persist in taking our own way, is small evidence, really 
no evidence, that we love him at all. He says, "Why call ye 
me. Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" And again, 
"Not every one that saith unto me. Lord, Lord, shall enter 
into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of 
my Father which is in heaven." Then surely we ought to 
study carefully the teaching of the Word on these subjects, 
and try earnestly to find his way. What we do according 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 189 

to his will, tlie teaching of the Word, will be "gold, silver, 
precious stones," and for it we shall have a reward. If 
sprinkling for baptism is not in the Bible, it is only "wood, 
hay and stubble"; that much of our works will sure be burned 
up and we shall "suffer loss." How much better to do just 
what Jesus teaches. The apostle says, "Look to yourselves 
that ye lose not that which ye have wrought; but that' ye 
receive a full reward." 

Our Savior instituted his supper the night he was betray- 
ed, at the close of the passover meal, after Judas had gone 
out to betray him, only the eleven partaking of it at that 
time. No definite time was set for its observance. We have 
no record of its observance for about seven weeks after its in- 
stitution. Then for a short time it was observed every day, 
then once a week, and later at longer intervals. The ordi- 
nance was given to the church, to be observed in the church 
and by the members of the church, not by any one and ev- 
ery one as they may choose. It is a church ordinance and 
not a kingdom ordinance. The kingdom is all God's chil- 
dren, but has no organization. The church is a definitely or- 
ganized body, having well defined qualifications of membership, 
as we have seen in the study on "the church," and only the 
members have right to the supper. Members of different 
religious bodies may not commune together, for this would 
destroy unity, one of the things the supper is designed to rep- 
resent. There was but one church at first and they all com- 
muned together. There will be but one church above; we will 
all be one again there. But now the penalty of a divided 
church is a separate communion. This will appear very plainly 
in the Scriptures of this study, and in the following points: 

A remarkable four-fold feature runs all through this 
ordinance; four heads, with four points in each, institution, 
elements, purpose, who partake. 

1. The Institution; this is given in all four of the gos- 
pels, near the end of each. 

2. The elements: Unleavened bread, unfermented wine, 
communicants, the members of the church; administrator, 
pastor, or ordained minister, as acting pastor. 

3. The purpose. This is four-fold: (1) memorial, to re- 
member Christ, "This do in remembrance of me." (2) To 



190 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

show his death. "As oft as ye do this, ye do show forth the 
Lord's death." (3) Express unity, "Ye are one body." It 
must be -a united body that surrounds the table and partakes 
of the supper. This will appear more fully under the next 
head. (4) Perpetual, to be observed by the church "till he 
comes." 

4. Who may partake? Four very clear points here. (1) 
Those who have been regenerated, or "born again," (2) These 
must also have been baptized. So far as we know only re- 
generated, baptized believers partook of the supper at first. (3) 
They must all be of one faith, "and they continued stead- 
fastly in the apostles' doctrine." (4) church fellowship. 
"They continued in fellowship, and in breaking of bread.". 
These four prerequisites are very clearly given in Acts 2:41,42, 
the first account we have of the observance of the supper af- 
ter it was instituted. By a careful study of these verses it will 
be seen that what is called "open" or interdenominational 
commnnion is Scripturally impossible. The communicants 
must be regenerated, baptized, -of one faith, and fellowship. 
One step, members of a number of religious bodies may all 
have alike. They have been regenerated. But this only 
makes them members of Christ's kingdom and not of his 
church, and the supper is an ordinance in the church. Christ 
put it there, and we have no right to take it out. Farther than 
this we cannot go together. Many have not been baptized, and 
none of the bodies have faith and fellowship alike. Each de- 
nomination believes that it has all these steps, hence each 
can consistently partake in its own communion, but with all 
existing differences it would be impossible in or between the 
different bodies. As to whether any denomination can Scrip- 
turally observe the supper or not, will depend on whether they 
are carrying out the real teachings of the Bible. Controversy 
is deplorable. "Let each be fully persuaded in his own mind." 
Many lose the meat of this ordinance in contending about the 
shell. If we have hard thoughts towards those who differ 
with us on this question, we are almost certain to miss the 
right observance of the ordinance no matter where we are. 
The real communion is in our thought and prayer toward God 
and Christ. If we are right it will be again, "gold, silver, 
precious stones." If we are wrong it will be more "wood, hay 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



191 



and stubble." But these Scriptures will pay for a careful 
reading and study. 



Instituted. 



Command- 
ed. 



Command- 
ed. 

Observed. 



Received. 
Transmit- 
ted. 
Purpose. 



Regenera- 
tion. 



And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, 
and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the 
disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave 
it to them, saying. Drink ye all of it; for this is 
my blood of the new testament, which is shed 
for many for the remission of sins. — IVIatt. 
26:26-28. 

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and 
broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my 
body which is given for you; this do in remem- 
brance of me. Likewise also the cup after sup- 
per, saying, This cup is the new testament in my 
blood, which is shed for you. — Luke 22:19,20. 

Xow I praise you, brethren, that ye remember 
me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I 
delivered them to you. — 1 Cor. 11:2. 

And upon the first day of the week, when the 
disciples came together to break bread, Paul 
preached unto them, ready to depart on the mor- 
row; and continued his speech until midnight. — 
Acts 20:7. 

For I have received of the Lord that which 
also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, 
the same night in which he was betrayed, took 
bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake 
it, and said. Take eat; this is my body, which is 
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 
After the same manner also he took the cup, when 
he had supped, saying. This cup is the new testa- 
ment in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink 
it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye 
eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the 
Lord's death till he come. — 1 Cor. 11:23-26. 
Prerequisites. 

1. Jesus answered and said unto him. Verily, 
verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born 
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. — J no. 
3:3. 



192 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Baptism. 2, He that believeth and is baptized shall be 

saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 
— Mk. 16:16. 
Sound 3. Then understood they how that he bade 

doctrine, them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of 
the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Saddu- 
cees. — Matt. 16:12. 
including Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye 

may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For 
even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us; there- 
fore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, 
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; 
but with the unleavened tiread of sincerity and 
truth.— 1 Cor. 5:7,8. 
right But now I have written unto you not to keep 

life. company, if any man that is called a brother be 

a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a 
railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such 
a one no not to eat. For what have I to do to 
judge them also that are without? Do not ye 
judge them that are within? But them that are 
without God judgeth. Therefore put away from 
among yourselves that wicked person. — 1 Cor. 
5:11-13. 
Fellowship. 4, For as the body is one, and hath many 
members, and all the members of that one body, 
Four In being many, are one body: so also is Christ. — 1 
one: Cor. 12:12. 

regenera- Then they that gladly received his word were 

tion, baptized: and the same day there were added 

baptism. unto them about three thousand souls. And they 
unfty of continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine 
faith, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in 

fellowship, prayers. — Acts 2:41,42. 

Manner of Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and 
observance, drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be 
sincerely, guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let 
prayerfully, a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that 

bread, and drink of that cup.— 1 Cor, 11:27,28. 
with Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 193 

self faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your 

Examlna« own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, 
tion. except ye be reprobates? — 2 Cor. 13:5. 

50. KINGDOM OF GOD. 

A little study of this subject willhelp to a better under- 
standing of the church. They are not the same. The "King- 
dom of God," or "Kingdom of Heaven," the two used inter- 
changeably, as seen in the t^vo first texts of the study, and 
both meaning the same thing, means the spiritual kingdom? 
which Christ set up under the gospel; spiritual as dis- 
tinguished from the literal kingdoms of Israel and Judah in 
the old dispensation. Of this new spiritual kingdom John 
the Baptist was the forerunner or herald, but not a member. 
Though saved, John was yet counted in the old and not in 
the new kingdom. 

In this spiritual kingdom every soul saved under the gos- 
pel is a member, and only saved souls are members of it. 
This spiritual kingdom is not an organized body, and to it is 
committed no ordinances or specific mission as an institution, 
though the individual members of it, every saved soul, is 
under obligation to carry out the teachings of Christ, except 
in those things specifically committed to the church, and 
even of the things committed to the church, the ordinances 
and all organized work, every child of the kingdom should 
have a part, for every such child ought to be a member of 
the church. 

The church is a definitely organized body as we have 
seen, and to it is committed the ordinances, and Christ's 
organized work in the world. He knew what was best for 
his people and his work. Organization in every thing is. 
essential to greatest efficiency. The difference between the 
kingdom and the church is the difference between a mass 
of people and a disciplined army. There may be some mem- 
bers in the church who are not in the kingdom. The church 
being an organized body this is possible, yet it is not Christ's 
will that there should be any in his church who are not in 
the kingdom, and evidently it was his purpose to have the 
church co-extensive with the kingdom, that is, that every 
saved soul, every member of the kingdom, should be a mem- 

12 



194 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



ber of the church, and for any saved soul to stay out of the 
church, is disloyalty to the King. 

The "Kingdom of God," having its beginning on earth, 
will have its ending in heaven. At least four distinct phases 
of the kingdom are presented in the New Testament. 
^'Kingdom Verily I say unto you. Among them that are 

of Heaven," born of women there hath not risen a greater 
^'Kingdom than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that 
is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than 
he.— Matt. 11:11. 

For I say unto you, among those that are 
born of women there is not a greater prophet than 
John the Baptist: but he that is least in the 
kingdom of God is greater than he.— Lu. 7:28. 
Four Views of the Kingdom. 

1. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; 
and all these things shall be added unto you.— 
Lu. 12:31. 

And when Jesus saw that he answered dis- 
creetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from 
the kingdom of God. And no man after that 
durst ask him any question. — Mk. 12:34. 

And as ye go, preach, saying. The Kingdom of 
heaven is at hand. — Matt. 10:7. 

2. Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of 
God shall be taken from you, and given to a 
nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. — Matt. 
21:43. 

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not 
receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he 
shall not enter therein. — Mk. 10:15. 

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a 
net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of 
every kind. — Matt. 13:47. 

3. And when he was demanded of the Phari- 
sees, when the kingdom of God should come, he 
answered them and said, The kingdom of God 
cometh not with observation: neither shall they 
say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the king- 
dom of God is within you. 



i)f God/' 

used 
iinter- 
change- 
a'Dly. 
The 

r^ign of 
grace, 

God's 

spiritual 

kingdom 

on earth. 
The, 
gospel 
and its 



bsenefits. 



g^'ace, 
in the 
individual 
soul. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 195 

Heaven, 4. And when one of them that sat at meat 

with him heard these things, he said unto him, 

Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom 

of God.— Lu. 14:15, 

or the Blessed are they which are persecuted for 

Kingdom righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of 

heaven. — Matt. 5:10. 

and • Whosoever therefore shall break one of these 

reign least commandments, and shall teach men so, he 

of shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: 

glory. but whosoever shall do and teach them, the 

same shall be called great in the kingdom of 

heaven. For I say unto you, That except your 

righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of 

the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case 

enter into the kingdom of heaven. — Matt. 5:19,20. 

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth 

of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I 

drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom. 

—Matt. 26:29. 

Pray for it. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, 

as it is in heaven. — Matt. 6:6. 

51. THE SABBATH. 

In the second chapter of Genesis we are told that when 
God had finished his six days of creation he rested on the 
seventh day, sanctifying and blessing it, and so setting it 
apart as a Sabbath, "hallowed it." In the twentieth chapter 
of Exodus the commandment to keep the seventh day of the 
week as a Sabbath is definitely given, and the reason 
assigned, that God had done his great work of creation in six 
days, and made a Sabbath of the seventh day. Because God 
had so labored and rested, man is also to labor six days 
and rest the seventh. Though no command is recorded before 
this time, it is evident from the words used in giving the 
command, that there had been a Sabbath from the beginning, 
yet possibly not observed by the Jews in their Egyptian bond- 
age. From the thirty-first chapter of Exodus it appears that 
the seventh-day Sabbath was especially given to the Jews. 

While the commandment was clear, positive and strict, 



Xm THE BIBLE COMPANION 

the Jews through centuries had added a great deal to it, 
until it had became more of a burden tlian a blessing. Jesus 
came and swept away these burdensome details, showing that 
the Sabbath was made for man, to be a real blessing to 
him, to be used for religious work and worship, works of 
necessity and mercy being allowed. 

Following the failure of the Jews to receive the Messiah, 
they were left with the old Sabbath, as one of their dis- 
tinguishing marks. All who religiously observe the old Sab- 
bath are Jews, or Judaizitig Christians. Jesus gave his 
church and all his followers a nevv^ day, the Christian Sabbath, 
or first day of the week. For this we simply have the example 
of Christ, the apostles, and the early church. After Christ's 
resurrection we never have a single instance of Christians 
meeting on the old Sabbath, or observing it as a day of wor- 
ship. So far as we have any record they always met on the 
first day of the week, the Christian Sabbath. It is sometimes 
said that the Emperor Constantine changed the day, but 
this is evidently a mistake either ignorantly or wilfully made, 
for the first day was the one in most common use as the 
Sabbath by Christians, and he could not change it. To avoid 
confusion, as some were still observing the old Sabbath. 
Constantine simply decreed that the day in most common 
use by Christians should be the Sabbath. Jesus changed the 
day by his example, and all who observe the first day are 
now following him, so far as the day is concerned. In the 
creation of the world and the redemption of man a very 
special honor rests upon the first day of the week, or Chris- 
tian Sabbath. On it God the Father created light, Jesus 
Christ the Son rose from the dead, and the Holy Spirit made 
his descent, on the day of Pentecost. 
"On thee, at the creation, 

The light first had its birth; 
On thee, for our salvation, 

Christ rose from depths of earth; 
On thee, our Lord victorious, 

The Spirit sent from heaven; 
And thus on thee, most glorious, 

A triple light is given." 
A most important thing for us today is to use the day 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 197 

in God's way, really making it a day of rest, spiritual work 
and worship, avoiding the awful desecration of the day in 
worldliness and wickedness, so prevalent in this time, or 
even using it as a kind of holiday or day of amusement. It 
is still God's day and he is jealous of it, blessing those who 
rightly observe it, and punishing nations, families or individ- 
uals that disregard it. Read this study carefully and note the 
origin, change, and proper observance of the Sabbath. This 
incident will well illustrate: 

"In New Hampshire there were two neighborhoods, one 
of six families and one of five. The six families disregarded 
the Sabbath. In time five of these families were broken up 
by separations of husbands and wives, the other by the 
father becoming a thief. Eight or nine of the parents became 
drunkards, one committed suicide, and all came To penury. 
Of some forty or fifty descendents, about twenty are known 
to be drunkards and gamblers and dissolute, four or five have 
been in state prisons, some are in the almshouse; only one 
became a Christian, and he after having first been out- 
rageously dissipated. 

"The other five families that regarded the Sabbath were 
all prospered. Eight or ten of the children are consistent 
members of the church; some of them became officers in the 
church, one is a minister of the gospel, one a missionary in 
China; no poverty among any of them. Those who have died 
have died in the peace of the gospel. Ohl is there nothing 
in remembering God's holy day?" 

I. Instituted. 
God's day. And God blessed the seventh day, and sancti- 

fied it: because that in it he had rested from all 
his work which God created and made. — Gen. 2:3. 
For Jews. It shall be a sign between me and the chil- 

dren of Israel forever. — Ex. 31:17. 
For all. And he said unto them, The sabbath was made 

for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore 
the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.^Mk. 
2:27,28. 

II. The Change. 
Example Then the same day at evening, being the first 

day of the week, when the doors were shut where 



198 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



of 



Christ. 



Pentecost. 



Early 
church. 



First day. 

Day of 
worship. 



Old 
Testament, 



Example 



In the 



the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, 
came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto 
them. Peace be unto you. — Jno. 20:19. 

And when he had said this, he breathed on 
them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy 
Ghost— Jno. 20:22. 

And after eight days again his disciples were 
within, and Thomas with them; then came Jesus, 
the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, 
and said. Peace be unto you. — Jno. 20:26. 

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come. 
They were all with one accord in one place. — 
Acts 2:1. 

And upon the first day of the week, when the 
disciples came together to break bread, Paul 
preached unto them, ready to depart on the mor- 
row; and continued his speech until midnight. — ■ 
Acts 20:7. 

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. — Rev. 
1:10. 

Upon the first day of the week let every one 
of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered 
him, that there be no gatherings when I come. — 
1 Cor. 16:2. 

III. Proper Observance. 

Turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from, 
doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the 
sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable ; 
and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, 
nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking 
thine own words. — Is. 58:13. 

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been 
brought up; and, as his custom was, he "went into 
the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to 
read. — Lu. 4:16. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in 
all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one 
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. — 
Col. 3:16. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 19^ 

New And let us consider one another to provoke 

Testament, unto love and to good works: not forsaking the 
assembling of ourselves together, as the manner 
of some is; but exhorting one another: and so 
much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 
— Heb. 10:24,25. 

52. THE RESURRECTION. 

The resurrection of Christ, and through him of all the 
dead, is one of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel. Paul 
in the fifteenth chapter of first Corinthians gives this sum- 
mary: "'Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; 
and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third 
day acording to the Scriptures." The death and resurrec- 
tion of Jesus are the two great pillars of the gospel. These 
two doctrines the disciples and early Christians were con- 
stantly preaching; hence their great success. The resurrec- 
tion especially met with opposition, but the apostles went 
on preaching it, and many believers were found. Some 
denied then, especially the Sadducees, and some disbelieve 
now, declare it impossible. But all such douDters should 
consider that if man himself with his little knowledge and 
power has yet done a hundred things that have been declared 
impossible, it ought not to be thought such a great matter 
that God with his infinite knowledge and power should do 
this. It is tremendously foolish to rate God as having less 
power than man. 

The resurrection of Christ is the crowning miracle of 
the Word of God. And miracles need not trouble any one, 
and will not with a little reflection. As God's foreknowledge 
explains every prophecy, so he has made provision for every 
miracle. They are but a part of his great plan. What is 
impossible with man, we must admit could be easily possible 
with God, else he is no God at all, no more than a man. 
To say "impossible" of the works of God, only shows that 
we have no real conception of God. Think what we may of 
ourselves, but let us not limit the power of the great and 
Holy One. 

Five proofs of the resurrection of Christ may be given 



200 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

that may help to remove difficulty from the minds of some 
lionest doubters; yet why doubt at all? Doubt weakens; faith 
makes strong. 

1. The carefulness of Christ's enemies to make sure 
there was no deception practiced by him or his friends, in 
sealing the stone and setting the watch, is a very strong 
proof of his resurrection. We are glad they were so careful. 
It makes his resurrection certain. God makes the rage of 
man to praise him. The devil sometimes outdoes himself. 
His acts and the deeds of wicked men often become to them 
a very real boomerang, bringing the evil they intended for 
another back on their own heads. 

2. The incredulity and unbelief of the disciples is 
another strong proof. It is impossible that they could have 
known anything about it or had any part in it. While un- 
belief is no blessing to the one holding it, as the disciples 
in tills instance, especially Thomas, yet their unbelief may 
now be the means of strengthening our faith. 

3. The Bible everywhere declares the fact. See in this 
study the prophecies and the preaching of it. 

4. There were hundreds of witnesses; also seen in this 
study. Eleven appearances in forty days are recorded, some- 
times to one or a few, sometimes to many. 

5. The great power and success that has always attended 
the preaching of the doctrine is a clear proof. No such 
results could possibly follow a fiction. 

Denied. The same day came unto him the Sadducees, 

which say there is no resurrection. — Matt. 22:23. 
I. Prophecies. 

David. He, seeing this before, spake of the resurrec- 

tion of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, 
neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus 
hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 
—Acts 2:31,32. 

Jesus. And they shall mock him, and shall scourge 

him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him; 
and the third day he shall rise again. — Mk. 10:34. 

Daniel.. And many of them that sleep in the dust of 

the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, 
and some to shame and everlasting contempt. — 
Dan. 12:2. 



. THE BIBLE COMPANION 201 

Jesus. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in 

the which all that are in the graves shall hear 
his voice, and shall come forth; they that have 
clone good, unto the resurrection of life; and they 
that have done evil, unto the resurrection of dam- 
nation. — Jno. 5:28,29. 

Paul. And have hope toward God, which they them- 

selves also allow, that there shall be a resurrec- 
tion of the dead, both of the just and unjust. — ■ 
Acts 24:15. 

Martha. Martha said unto him, I know that he shall 

Jesus. rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and 
the life; he that believeth in me, though he were 
dead, yet shall he live. — Jno. 11:24,25. 

Paul. For the Lord himself shall descend fix)m 

heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch 
angel, and with the trump of God; and the dead 
in Christ shall rise first. — 1 Thes. 4:16. 

That Christ should suffer, and that he should 
be the first that should rise from the- dead, and 
should show light unto the people, and to the 
Gentiles.— Acts 26:23. 

II. Witnesses. 

Angels. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. 

Come see the place where the Lord lay. — Matt. 
28:6. 

Graves And the graves were opened; and many bodies 

opened. of the saints which slept arose. And came out of 
the graves after his resurrection, and went into 
the holy city, and appeared unto many. — Matt. 
27:52,53. 

Mary. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day 

of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, 
out of whom he had cast seven devils. — Mk. 16:9. 

The ten. Then the same day at evening, being the first 

day of the week, when the doors were shut where 
the disciples were assembled for fear of the jews, 
came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith 
unto them. Peace be unto you. — Jno. 20:19. 



202 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Matthias. Beginning from the baptism of John, unto 

that same day that he was taken up from us, 
must one be ordained to be a witness with us 
of his resurrection. — Acts 1:22. 
500 and And that he was buried, and that he rose 

more. again the third day according to the Scriptures: 

Paul. And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 

and twelve: After that, he was seen of above five 

hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater 
part remain unto this present, but some are fallen 
asleep. After that he was seen of James; then 
of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen 
of me also, as of one born out of due time. — 
1 Cor. 15:4-8. 
apostles Being grieved that they taught the people, and 

preached through Jesus the resurrection from the 
dead. — Acts 4:2. 
witnessing. And with great power gave the apostles wit- 
ness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and 
great grace was upon all. — Acts 4:33. 
III. Preached. 
Paul. ' Then certain philosophers or uie Epicureans, 

and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some 
said. What will this babbler say? other some. He 
seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: 
because he preached unto them Jesus, and the 
resurrection. — Acts 17:18. 
Paul's Now if Christ be preached that he rose from 

great the dead, how say some among you that there 

Argument, is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be 
no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not 
risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our 
preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea; 
and we are found false witnesses of God; because 
we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: 
whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead 
rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not 
Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your 
faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they 
also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 203 

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we 
are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ 
risen from the dead, and become the first fruits 
of them that slept. 
Believe it. For since by man came death, by man came 

also the resurrection of the dead. For as in 
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive. But every man in his own order: Christ 
the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's 
at his coming. — 1 Cor. 15:12-23. 

IV. Conclusions. 
We shall But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus 

rise. from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up 

Christ from the dead shall also quicken your 
mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. — 
Rom. 8:11. 
be changed. For our conversation is in heaven ; from whence 
also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 
who shall change your vile body, that it may be 
fashioned like unto his glorious body, according 
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue 
all things unto himself. — Phil, 3:20,21. 
Affections If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those 

above. things which are above, where Christ sitteth on 

the right hand of God.— Col. 3:1. 

First But the rest of the dead lived not again until 

resurrec- the thousand years were finished. This is the 

tion. first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that 

hath part in the first resurrection: on such the 

second death hath no power, but they shall be 

priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with 

him a thousand years. — Rev. 20:5,6. 

53. CHRIST'S SECOND COMING. 

While many mistakes have been made in Bible inter- 
pretation concerning this great doctrine, especially in fixing 
the precise time for Christ's return, the fact of his coming 
again is very plainly taught in the New Testament, and 
must have been of unusual importance in the mind of God, 



204 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

from the number of times it is mentioned. Directly or 
indirectly the second coming of Christ is taught in three 
hundred and fifty places, or an average of nearly one and 
a half times for every chapter. Of no other single doctrine, 
perhaps, is there more said than of this. The fact of His 
coming is very clear, and in a general way the time, but the 
day and hour no one may know. "This gospel of the king- 
dom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto 
all nations; and then shall the end come * * ' * But of that 
day and hour (precise day and hour), knoweth no man, no, 
not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." — Matt. 24:14, 
36. 

In the following study a general outline of the pre- 
millennial view of Christ's coming is given under five heads: 
1. The distinct promise. 2. Through a period of seven years 
he comes in the air, or heaven, invisible to earth. In this 
time the dead in Christ will be raised, the living and watch- 
ing ones will be changed, and the marriage supper of the 
Lamb will occur. On earth during the same time the Jews 
will return to their own land and city, rebuild the temple, 
Anti-Christ will appear, and a period of great tribulation, or 
persecution follow for the careless believers left behind. 3, 
At the end of the seven years Christ will come to the earth, 
appearing on the Mount of Olives. Following his return to 
earth the Jews will be converted, Anti-Christ destroyed and 
Satan bound through the millennial reign of Christ for a 
thousand years. After the millennium Satan will be released 
and overthrown, the general resurrection and last judgment 
will take place, earth will be burned up and the new heaven 
and new earth be created, "wherein dwelleth righteousness," 
with the throne of God, the light of the Lamb and the joy 
of the redeemed continuing forever. 4. Many signs of His 
coming. 5. Many directions to watch for this greatest com- 
ing event in the world's history. 

Four "comings" of Christ appear in the Bible siory: 

1. His first advent in the flesh as the God-man to live 
and die for and redeem the world. 

2. His Coming in grace, or saving through the gospel. 

3. His practical second coming, our death, the end of 
the world for us. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 205 

4. His real or final second coming, the "end of the 
world." 

His first coming made salvation possible. His coming 
in grace will make salvation certain to all who hear of 
and receive him, and will prepare for death, the end of the 
world and His second personal coming. Only a few saw him 
come first and only a comparatively small number will see 
Him come at last, that is, of living men ana women, few 
compared v>^ith the billions that have lived and died v/itiioiit 
seeing Him. The second and third thoughts seem to oe the 
comings of greatest importance to us all. He comes in 
death to every on§ and he comes in grace to every one 
who hears His Word that every one may be prepared for 
death. Let us preach these two comings faithfully. If we 
are found "so doing," shall we not be most and best ready 
for his personal second, coming, whenever that may be? 

Philip Henry called upon a tanner, who was so briskly 
employed in tanning a hide that he did not notice the min- 
ister's approach, and on looking around he apologized for 
being thus employed. Philip Henry replied, "Let Christ 
when he comes, find me equally well employed in the duties 
of my calling." 

The fourth point, or Christ's personal, second coming, is 
taught and we believe it, though all thought about it may 
not be perfectly clear. It has had nothing directly to do 
with the billions who have lived before us, and may have 
nothing to do with us, for it has not taken place and may 
not in our day. Possibly Jesus intended it to mean more 
to his believers and the world than it has meant. Devout, 
orthodox, evangelical men and women, however, have differed 
widely in their views concerning it;- they all agree on the 
second and third points. Much if not most of Christ's teach- 
ings on the subject may have reference to the second and 
third points, else it would have been of limited use to the 
very ones to whom he was speaking, or to the millions who 
have lived since. He was not deceiving them or us. He is 
coming a second time "without sin unto salvation," but his 
coming in grace and at death is surely a thousand times 
more important because it directly concerns a thousand times 
more people. While all believe in His personal second com- 



206 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



ing, and we should all be watching for and working to hasten 
it, let us each have our individual views about it, but not 
contend about the precise order and time. Possibly if we 
believe, preach and live this doctrine right he may come in 
this generation. 

A lady once said to John Wesley, "Suppose you knew 
you were to die at twelve o'clock tomorrow night, how would 
you employ the intervening time?" "Why, just as I intend 
to spend it now. I would preach this evening at Gloucester, 
and again at five o'clock tomorrow morning. After that I 
would ride to Tewkesbury, preach in the afternoon, meet 
the societies in the evening, then repair to friend Martin's, 
who expects to entertain me, converse and pray with the 
family as usual, retire to my room at ten o'clock, commend 
myself to my heavenly Father, lie down to rest, wake up 
in glory!" 

I. Promises. 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will 
come again, and receive you unto myself; that 
where I am, there ye may be also. — J no. 14:3. 

Which also said. Ye men of Galilee, why stand 
ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which 
is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come 
in like manner as ye have seen him go into 
heaven. — Acts 1:11. 

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of 
many; and unto them that look for him shall he 
appear the second time without sin unto salvation. 
— Heb. 9:28. 

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not 
when the time is. — Mk. 13:33. 

II. In the Air. 
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of 
man in heaven : and then shall alfthe tribes of the 
earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man 
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and 
great glory. And he shall send his angels with 
a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather 
together his elect from the four winds, from one 
end of heaven to the other.— Matt. 24:30,31. 



Promised. 



When? 



Seven 
Years in 
Heaven. 

In the 
clouds. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



207 



Dead in 

Christ 

raised. 



In the Air. 



Living 
changed. 



Rewarded. 



Marriage 
Supper. 



Jews 
return. 



For this we say unto you by the word of the 
Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the 
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which 
are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend 
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the 
dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are 
alive and remain shall be caught up together with 
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: 
and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Where- 
fore comfort one another with these words. — 1 
Thess. 4:15-18. 

Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all 
sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, 
in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for 
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be 
raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. — 
1 Cor. 15:51,52. 

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man 
doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, 
whether he be bond or free. — Eph. 6:8 

If any man's work abide which he hath built 
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. — 1 Cor. 3:14. 

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound 
hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him. 
Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been 
faithful in a very little, have thou authority over 
ten cities. — Lu. 19:16,17. 

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to 
him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and 
his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was 
granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, 
clean and white: for the fine linen is the right- 
eousness of saints. — Rev. 19:7,8. 

Seven Years on Earth. 

Thus saith the Lord; refrain thy voice from 
weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work 
shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall 
come again from the land of the enemy. And 
there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy 



208 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

children shall come again to their own border, — 
Jer. 31:16, 17. 
Temple And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: 

rebuilt. and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the 

temple of God, and the altar, and them that wor- 
ship therein. — Rev. 11:1. 
Anti-Christ. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that 
day shall not come, except there come a falling 
away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the 
son of perdition; who opposeth and exaltetn him- 
self above all that is called God, or that is wor- 
shiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple 
of God, showing himself that he is God. — 2 Thess. 
2:3,4. 
Great But the court which is without the temple leave 

out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the 
Gentiles: and the holy city shall be trodden under 
foot forty and two months. — Rev. 11:2. 
tribulation. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, 
and shall be led away captive into all nations: and 
Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, 
until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. — Lu. 
21:24. 

Because thou hast kept the word of my pa- 
tience, I also will keep thee from the hour of 
temptation, which shall come upon all the world, 
to try them that dwell upon the earth. — Rev. 3:10. 
III. On Earth. 
Mount of And his feet shall stand in that day upon the 

Olives. mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the 

east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the 
midst thereof toward the east and toward the 
west, and there shall be a veiy great valley; and 
half of the mountain shall remove toward the 
north, and half of it toward the south. — Zech. 14:4. 
Jews Who hath heard such a thing? Who. hath seen 

converted, such things? Shall the earth be made to bring 
forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at 
once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought 
forth her children.— Is. 66:8. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



2C9 



Mnti-Christ 
destroyed. 



Satan 
bounu a 
thousand 
years. 



Christ's 
millenial 



reign of 



a thousand 
years. 



Satan 
defeated. 



And the beast was taken, and with him the 
false prophet that wrought miracles before him, 
with which he deceived them that had received 
the mark of the beast and them that worshiped 
his image. These both were cast alive into a 
lake of fire burning with brimstone. — Rev. 19:20.- 

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old ser- 
pent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound 
him a thousand years, and cast him into the bot- 
tomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon 
him, that he should deceive the nations no more, 
till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and 
after that he must be loosed a little season. — 
Rev. 20:2,3. 

And in the days of these kings shall the God 
of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be 
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to 
other people, but it shall break in pieces and con- 
sume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand lor- 
ever. — Dan. 2:44. 

And the seventh angel sounded; and there w^ere 
great voices in heaven, saying. The kingdoms of 
this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, 
and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and 
ever. — Rev. 11:15. 

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art 
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals 
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed 
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and 
tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us 
unto our God kings and priests: and we shall 
reign on the earth. — Rev. 5:9, 10. 

And they went up on the breadth of the earth,, 
and compassed the camp of the saints about, and 
the beloved city: and fire came down from God 
out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil 
that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire 
and brimstone, where the beast and the false 
prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night 
for ever and ever.^Rev. 20:9,10. 



13 



210 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



General 
resurrec- 
tion. 

The last 



•judgment. 



World 
destroyed. 
New 
Heaven 

New earth. 



God's 
presence. 



The home 
of the 
redeemed. 



I ncrease of 
knowledge 



Worldli- 
ness; 



And the sea gave up the dead which were in 
it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which 
were in them: and they were judged every man 
according to their works. — Rev. 20:13. 

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand 
before God; and the books were opened: and 
another book was opened which is the book of 
life: and the dead were judged out of those 
things which were written in the books, accord- 
ing to their works. — Rev. 20:12. 

And death and hell were cast into the lake of 
fire. This is the second death. And whosoever 
was not found written in the book of life was cast 
into the lake of fire.— Rev. 20:14,15. 

The earth also and the works that are therein 
shall be burned up. — 2 Pet. 3:10. 

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as 
a bride adorned for her husband. — Rev. 21:2. 

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, 
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein 
dwelleth righteousness. — 2 Pet. 3:13. 

And I heard a great voice out of heaven say- 
ing, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be 
his people, and God himself shall be with them, 
and be their God. And God shall wipe away all 
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more 
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall 
there be any more pain: for the former things 
are passed away. — Rev. 21:3,4. 

IV. Signs of His Coming. 

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal 
the book, even to the time of the end: many shall 
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 
—Dan. 12:4. 

This know also, that in the last days perilous 
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of 
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blas- 
phemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, un- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



211 



Itching 
ears. 



Mockers. 



False 
teachers. 



False 
Christs. 



Wars, 



earth- 
quakes, 
famines. 



Gospel. 



holy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, 
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of 
those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, 
lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; hav- 
ing a form of godliness, but denying the power 
thereof: from such turn away. — 2 Tim. 3:1-5. 

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse 
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. — 2 Tim. 
3:13. 

For the time will come when they will not 
endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts 
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having 
itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears 
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 
—2 Tim. 4:3,4. 

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the 
last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 
and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? 
for since the fathers fell asleep, all things con- 
tinue as they were from the beginning of the 
creation. — 2 Pet. 3 : 3, 4. 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the 
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giv- 
ing heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of 
devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their 
conscience seared with a hot iron. — 1 Tim. 4:1,2. 

Tell us, when shall these things be, and what 
shall be the sign when all these things shall be 
fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to 
say. Take heed lest any man deceive you; for 
many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; 
and shall deceive many. And when ye shall hear 
of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: 
for such things must needs be; but the end shall 
not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, 
and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be 
earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be 
famines and troubles: these are the beginnings 
of sorrows. — Mark 13:4-8. 

And the gospel must first be published among 
all nations. — Mk. 13:10. 



212 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Fear and And there shall be signs in the sun, and in 

unrest. the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth 

distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and 
waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, 
and for looking after those things which are com- 
ing on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall 
be shaken * * * And when these things begin to 
come to pass, then look up, and lift up your 
The heads: for your redemption draweth nigh. And 

fig tree. he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, 
and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye 
see and know of your own selves that summer is 
now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see 
these things come to pass, know ye that the 
kingdom of God is nigh at hand. — Lu. 21:25-31. 
Religious And many false prophets shall rise, and shall 

coldness. deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, 
the love of many shall wax cold. — Matt. 24:11,12. 
Hardened, And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it 
sin-blinded, be also in the days of the Son of man. They did 
eat, they drank, they married wives, they were 
given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered 
into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed 
them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of 
Lot; They did eat, they drank, they bought, they 
sold, they planted, they builded; but the same 
day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and 
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son 
of man is revealed. — Lu. 17:26-30. 
Little faith. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, 

shall he find faith on the earth?— Lu. 18:8. 

Million- Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your 

aires. miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches 

are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 

Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust 

of them shall be a witness against you, and shall 

eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped 

treasures together for the last days. — James 5:1-3. 

Patience. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



213 



Wise or 
foolish. 

"Watch." 



All hours. 



Anxiously 
waiting. 



Gross 
self- 
indulgence. 



Watching 
beatitude. 

The end. 



Watchman, 



the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. — J as. 5:8. 
V. Watching for His Coming. 

Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day 
nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.— 
Matt. 25:13. 

Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when 
the master of the house cometh, at even, or at 
midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the 
morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleep- 
ing. And what I say unto you I say unto all. 
Watch.— Mk. 13:35-37. 

I tell you, in that night there shall be two 
men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the 
other shall be left. Two women shall be grind- 
ing together; the one shall be taken, and the 
other left. Two men shall be in the field; the 
one shall be taken, and the other left. — Lu. 17:34- 
36. 

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights 
burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that 
wait for their Lord, when he will return from 
the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, 
they may open unto him immediately. — Lu. 12:35, 
36. 

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time 
your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and 
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that 
day come upon you unawares. For as a snare 
shall it come on all them that dwell on the face 
of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray 
always, that ye may be accounted worthy to 
escape all these things that shall come to pass, 
and to stand before the Son of man. — Lu. 21:34-36. 

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that 
watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk 
naked, and they see his shame. — Rev. 16:15. 

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye 
therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. — 1 Pet. 
4:7. 

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman 



2U IHB BIBLE COMPANION 

unto the no'ise of Israel: therefore hear the word 
at my mouth, and give them warning from me. — 
Ezek. 3:17. 
Watchmen. I have scl vva^:tJ'.nen upon thy walls, O Jeru- 
salem, which Si-ill never uold their peace day nor 
night. — Is. 62:6. 

54. HELL. 

Two eternal states, one of joy, and one of misery, most 
men profess to believe, and do theoretically, but practically, 
in actions, which speak louder than words, there is much un- 
belief, especially in the subject of this study. If all men 
strongly believed in hell as a place of future punishment, the 
unsaved would not be so careless about it, and Christians 
would be more active and earnest in trying to warn and 
save sinners from such a fate. 

It is a sad and awful word, yet true, nothing clearer. 
Like sin and Satan and sorrow, suffering and death, it is a 
part of the dark side of moral and spiritual existence, and 
the dark side is revealed just as clearly in the Bible as the 
light side. If there is no sin, Satan, death, hell, then there is 
no purity, no God, no blessed life, no heaven. The one is as 
clearly revealed as the other. Hell is an awful word and 
true, and most awful because true. Denying it will not de- 
stroy it, any more than shutting our eyes to the light will 
destroy that, or denying physical pain will remove it. Laugh- 
ing at and joking about it will only make it worse; we are so 
helping the evil one to blindfold ourselves to the truth. It 
Is a sad fact that familiarity with sacred and awful things 
may breed a kind of contempt for them, yet they are still 
there. People may not fear today as they once did, but hell 
is quite as true, just as awful, and more fearful, f^r the very 
reason that it is not feared. An unseen danger is always 
worse than a seen one. 

Because hell is not preached so much today, or in all its 
literalness as formerly, is no argument against it. If hell is 
not a literal lake of fire and brimstone into which the wicked 
are cast; if it is only a figurative term or expression, we 
need to remember that no type or figure is ever equal to the 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 215 

thing it represents. To make hell a figure will be but "jump- 
ing out of the frying pan into the fire," for if the figure is 
fire, the real hell will be something far worse. The literal 
view that people seem to object to, and hate so, is really the 
easiest way out, yet either way is unspeakably sad and aw- 
ful. The word may grate on the sensitive ears of some, but 
if we dislike to hear about it, what must it be to endure it? 

All the denials of infidelity and universalism, all the 
doubts men are indulging on this subject, are but the devil's 
soporifics or soothing syrup with which he is dosing man- 
kind to give them a sense of false security until the time 
of salvation is past, until death overtakes them in their sin, 
and the devil can claim his own. Sin and Satan and self 
shuts our eyes to these things, but God would open our eyes; 
hence the great plainness of the Scriptures. A Friend and 
not an enemy hath done this. "A pious gentleman was once 
called to visit an unhappy old man who lay at the point of 
death. For several years he had been an avowed infidel. 
He had been accustomed to scoff at Scripture; but he espe- 
cially exercised his profane wit in ridiculing the justice of 
God and the future punishment of the wicked. He died con- 
vinced, but not converted. His death was truly awful. With 
his last quivering breath he exclaimed, "Now I know there 
is a hell, for I feel it!" 

The "everlasting fire" of hell was prepared not for man 
but for "the devil and his angels," and it was. never God's 
wish that man should go to that awful place. But if man 
will believe and serve the devil, rather than believe, love and 
serve God, then he must share the devil's portion. If he 
serve the devil he must suffer with him. If we would love 
and serve God, he would be our portion and heaven would be 
our home, and the choice between these two lies with us. 
A mocking scoffer once asked, "Where is hell?" Brief but 
telling was the reply, "Anywhere outside of heaven." 

May we know what hell is? Not in all its fulness, per- 
haps, short of dwelling there, and then it will be too late to 
profit by the knowledge. But enough is revealed of what 
it is and will be, to make us want to avoid it, if we stop to 
think at all. Jesus calls it "everlasting punishment," and it 
is. "The wages of sin is death." God is just, as well as 



216 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

•merciful, and sin must be punished. Five things at least it 
clearly will consist of: 

1. The loss of all the good of earth, the things they once 
enjoyed so much, and despised and laughed at Christians for 
giving up. 

2. The loss of all the good, the joys of heaven. 

3. A guilty conscience forever stinging, "The worm that 
dieth not and the fire that is not quenched." Here conscience 
may be dead, but it will be alive there. 

4. Memory. Abraham said to Dives, "Son, remember," 
and he did, and we will. Here we can forget so easily and 
quickly. There we shall have nothing to do but remember 
forever, with nothing to help us forget as here. The lost 
will remember father's counsels, mother's prayers and tears, 
sermons heard. Sabbaths misspent, their mocking at sin, 
ridiculing and laughing at Christians, (no laughing then), 
conscience slighted, neglected opportunities of earth, all 
these and many more will be remembered, and the memory 
of them will be like red hot irons thrust through the quiver- 
ing flesh, or like walking on coals of fire. The mind can 
and does often suffer more than the body even here. An 
unspeakably sad truth here is the fact that the best men and 
women of earth, the intelligent, refined and moral, will suf- 
fer more in hell than the lowest down wretches of earth, the 
murderer, the thief, the drunkard and the immoral. This is 
not because God inflicts worse punishment upon them, but 
because it is inevitable, from their very nature. As a refined 
nature is capable of enjoying more happiness, so it can suffer 
more sorrow and pain than the ignorant, coarse and brutal. 
These better moral characters should not fail to seek and 
accept the Savior, the only way of escaping the certainty of 
an awful hell. They need to remember that their good char- 
acter, their morality will not save them, and that for them 
with their finer moral and spiritual sensibilities to reject the 
infinite purity, love, sacrifice and grace of Jesus Christ Is a 
far greater sin than for the depraved and vile to so reject him, 
and will merit the greater punishment they must receive. 
It is the certainty of fate. 

5. The punishment will be everlasting. The same word 
that describes the "eternal life" of the righteous, tells of the 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



217 



"everlasting punishment" of the wicked; the one will endure 
as long as the other. 

The following illustration may only show in small part 
the necessity for a place of future retribution; all sin de- 
serves and will receive its punishment. President Jackson's 
famous reply to the young man who objected to the doctrine 
of future punishment is well known. "I thank God," said 
the youth, "I have too much good sense to believe there is 
such a place as hell." "Well, sir," said General Jackson, "I 
thank God there is such a place." "Why, general," asked 
the young man, "what do you want with such a place of 
torment as hell?" To which the general replied, as quick 
as lightning, "To put such rascals as you in, that oppose 
and vilify the Christian religion." The young man said no 
more and soon after found it convenient to leave. Note the 
five points of the study. 

I. A Fact. 
The fallen God spared not the angels that sinned, but 

angels. cast them down to hell, and delivered them into 

chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judg- 
ment. — 2 Pet. 2:4. 
Words But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear; 

of Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power 

Jesus. to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Pear him. 

■— Lu. 12:5. 

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is 
better for thee to enter into life maimed, than 
having two hands to go into hell, into the fire 
that never shall be quenched. — Mk. 9:43. 

Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can 
ye escape the damnation of hell? — Matt. 23:33. 
II. Described. 
An un- The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness 

speakably hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us 
awful shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among 

place. us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? — Is. 

33:14. 

The Son of man shall send forth his angels, 
and they shall gather out of his kingdom all 
things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 



218 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there 
shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. — Matt. 
13:41,42. 

III. Duration. 

Everlasting, And many of them that sleep in the dust of 
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, 
and some to shame and everlasting contempt. — 
Dan. 12:2. 

Fire un- Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thor- 

quenchable.oughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into 
the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with 
unquenchable fire. — Matt 3:12. 

The death And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it 

that never is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of 

dies. God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast 

into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and 
the fire is not quenched. — Mk. 9:47,48. 
IV. Who Go There. 

All un- And whosoever was not found written in the 

forgiven book of life was cast into the lake of fire. — 

sinners. Rev. 20:15. 

The And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever 

wicked and hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my 

unbeliev- book. — Ex. 32:33. 

Ing. The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abom- 

inable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and 
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have 
their part in the lake which burneth with fire 
and brimstone: which is the second death. — Rev. 
21:8. 

V. How Escape. 

The one How shall we escape, if we neglect so great 

and only salvation. — Heb. 2:3. 

Way. Neither is there salvation in any other: for 

there is none other name under heaven given 
among men, whereby we must be saved. — Acts 
4:12. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 219 



55. HEAVEN. 

Heaven as tlie everlasting home of the redeemed is a 
word and place as glorious as the subject of our last study is 
sad and awful, and God wills this for all mankind; they 
choose the other place. God wills man into heaven, prepares 
the place and reveals the way there, but as a child may re- 
fuse his home, so man refuses his inheritance and wills him- 
self into hell. As hell is the loss of all the good of this life 
and of all that is glorious in the life beyond, so heaven is 
the enjoyment of all that is best on earth and all that is 
perfect in the other world. The sinner in his troubled con- 
science, sense of guilt and condemnation, has a foretaste of 
hell here. The hell beyond will be the hell here multiplied 
a million fold. He leaves all the good behind, and takes all 
the evil with him, and this becomes eternal; two hells, a 
little one here and an awful one hereafter. The believing 
child of God, in the peace and joy of forgiveness, has a fore- 
taste of heaven here. The heaven beyond will be the heaven 
here multiplied a million fold and made perfect. He leaves 
all the evil behind, takes all the good of earth with him, and 
this becomes eternal; two heavens, a little one here, and a 
glorious one hereafter. One must have a taste of heaven here 
or he will never have the fullness of it hereafter. If heaven 
is not in us here we will never be in heaven there. 

A scoffing infidel of considerable talents, being once in 
the company of a person of slender intellect, but of genuine 
piety, and supposing, no doubt, that he should obtain an 
easy triumph in the display of his ungodly wit, put the fol- 
lowing question to him: "I understand, sir, that you expect 
to go to heaven when you die; can you tell me what sort of 
a place heaven is?" "Yes, sir," replied the Christian, 
"heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people ; and if your 
soul is not prepared for it, with all your boasted wisdom, 
you will never enter there." 

Abiding in God's love it is possible to live a heavenly 
life on earth. Mr. Moody told of a Scotchman who was asked 
by some one if he was on his way to heaven. "Why, man," 
he said, "I live there." He was only a pilgrim here. Heaven 



220 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

was his home. Our fitness for heaven through the cleansing 
of the blood and the renewing of the Holy Spirit by faith in 
Jesus Christ, and our desire for it, makes heaven certain for 
all of God's real children. Their new nature makes them 
strangers here, and everywhere else outside of heaven. A 
godly minister was once asked if he felt sure of going to 
heaven when he died. His reply, both true and beautiful, 
was, "Where else can I go?" As the unchanged sinner could 
not feel at home in heaven, so the redeemed child of God 
can never feel at home anywhere else, and the desire of his 
heart is to be there, as soon as he has finished his work 
here and God is ready to take him home. 

It is possible for the Christian to live in the constant 
expectation of heaven, in the realization of a blessed fore- 
taste of it here, and of daily drawing nearer the heaven or 
"home over there." One of the sweetest thoughts the writer 
has ever had in this direction has recently come to him 
new, or with a new meaning and force, through a great sor- 
row. When feeling almost that he could not live, he has 
been greatly strengthened, comforted and helped with the 
thought that if God spares him it is because He has some 
blessed work for him to do, but if not, that it will be inex- 
pressibly sweet to go home and be "with Christ to stay." To 
stay here is blessed; to go there is glorious; ready and glad 
to do either, awaiting God's will. The Apostle says, "I am 
in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be 
with Christ; which is far better." And again, "For to me 
to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Anxious and willing for 
either, success and victory certain whether by life or by 
death. The following incident illustrates the beauty and 
blessedness of living all the time in heaven's borderland. 

The excellent Mr. Finley of Edinburgh, spoke habitually 
of death as only a step which would take him into his 
Father's home. His conversation was truly in heaven. In 
one of his many errands of mercy he called on a young girl 
sinking in a decline. Looking on her wan face, he took her 
hand, and said with a smile, "Weel, my dear, you're afore me. 
You're only nineteen an' you're almost across the river; a 
step or two mair, and ye'U stand on the ither side. I'm al- 
most seventy, an' I'll have some hard steps afore I'll hear its 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 221 

ripple. O lassie, tliis is a sweet day for you! Ye'II get 
home first." 

What does it matter wliere heaven is? A little child was 
once asked, "Where do you live?" Turning towards its 
mother, who stood near by, the little one said, "Where 
mamma is, there's where I live." Where God, and Jesus 
Christ, and all the redeemed and loved ones are, there will 
be heaven. 

"I know not the hour when my Lord will come 
To take me away to his own dear home; 
But I know that his presence will lighten the gloom. 
And that will be glory for me. 

I know not the song that the angels sing, 
I know not the sound of the harp's glad ring; 
But I know there'll be mention of Jesus our King, 
And that will be music for me. 

I know not the form of my mansion fair, 
I know not the name that I then shall bear; 
But I know that my Saviour will welcome me there, 
And that will be heaven for me." 

Note in the seven points of this study that the initial let- 
ter of the six first spells Christ. As Jesus is the center of 
the Word and the world, so he will be of heaven. 

I. C-ity. 

Abraham. For he looked for a city which hath founda- 

tions, whose builder and maker is God. — Heb. 
11:10. 

John. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 

coming down from God out of heaven, prepared 
as a bride adorned for her husband. — Rev. 21:2. 

II. H-ome. 

The In my Father's house are many mansions; if 

place it were not so, I would have told you. I go to 

prepare a place for you. — J no. 14:2. 
prepared. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth 

is named. — Eph. 3:15. 

III. R-est. 
"The There remaineth therefore a rest to the people 

weary are of God — Heb. 4:9. 



222 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



at rest." 



Prepared 
for the 

place. 



Walls, 
gates and 



streets 



of the city. 



True and 
faithful. 



Faithful 
and true. 



The blood- 
washed 



And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto 
me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in 
the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, 
that they may rest from their labors; and their 
works do follow them. — Rev. 14:13. 
IV. l-nheritance. 

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath 
made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance 
of the saints in light. — Col. 1:12. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant 
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope 
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 
to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and 
that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 
— 1 Pet. 1:3,4. 

V. S-omething Worth Seeing. 

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a 
great and high mountain, and showed me that 
great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of 
heaven from God. — Rev. 21:10. 

And the wall of the city had twelve founda- 
tions, and in them the names of the twelve apos- 
tles of the Lamb. — Rev. 21:14. 

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; 
every several gate was of one pearl; and the 
street of the city was pure gold, as it were trans- 
parent glass. — Rev. 21:21. 

VI. T-rue. 

And he that sat upon the throne said. Behold, 
I make all things new. And he said unto me, 
Write for these words are true and faithful.— 
Rev. 21:5. 

And he said unto me. These sayings are faith- 
ful and true. And the Lord God of the holy 
prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants 
the things which must shortly be done. — Rev. 22:6. 
VII. Who May Enter. 

And there shall in no wise enter into It any- 
thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 223 

abomination, or maketh a lie; but tbey which are 
written in the Lamb's book of life. — Rev. 21:27. 
and Blessed are they that do his commandments, 

obedient, that they may have right to the tree of life, and 
may enter in through the gates into the city. — 
Rev. 22:14. 

56. GOD'S OWNERSHIP. 

Much has been said and written in recent years on the 
subject of Christian Stewardship, and it is indeed a great 
matter, involving as it does, when rightly viewed, our entire 
life in all its relations and activities, a sevenfold stewardship, 
or the right use of our time, talents, privilege, opportunity, 
Grod's grace. His Word, and our means or money. The three 
following studies will constitute a series on different phases 
of that part of Christian Stewardship which relates to the 
use of our money for God. In this study we will look at the 
first division of the subject, God's ownership. 

God owns everything; man owns nothing. He owns 
everything by the simple right and title of creation; he made 
everything. "In the beginning God created the heaven and 
the earth." "All things were made by him; and without him 
was not anything made that was made." "For by him were 
all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, 
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, 
or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him 
and for him." Gen 1:1; John 1:3; Col. 1:16. And He has 
never conveyed one foot or head, or particle of it away. 
Search all the courts of record on earth and we shall not 
find one title with God's name signed to it. Man was 
created and put in the garden to dress it, not to own it. 

God owns man also. He owns man by a three-fold title, 
First, of creation in common with all other created things, 
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, 
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man 
became a living soul." Gen. 2:7. Second, by the infinitely 
higher title of redemption, "I have redeemed thee." Is. 43:1, 
and Third, by the equally true title of consecration, unless 
we take back, sneakingly or openly steal from God's very 



224 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

altar, what we once put there, if it was not merely for show.. 
But we must beware of that. God is not deceived. By tak- 
ing back or withholding we are deceiving ourselves and may 
lose all in the end, Is. 44:5, "I am the Lord's, "Ye are not 
your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify 
God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's," L 
Cor. 6:19, 20. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the 
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, 
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service," 
Rom. 12:1. This consecration should cover my property as 
well, for all belongs to God, as this study will show, and I 
am dishonoring God in not acknowledging this fact, 1 Cor. 
4:7, "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?" Even 
the power to get is given of God, "For it is he that giveth thee 
power to get wealth," Deut 8:18. 

So far as we refuse or fail to give ourselves to God, and 
use the things he has made and that belong to him, and that 
he has put in our hands, without recognizing in a practical 
way his divine ownership, we are guilty of the double sin of 
robbery and usurpation. Even the sinner belongs to God. 
He, too, has been bought and paid for, and he is guilty of 
robbing God, in refusing to give himself to Christ who has 
redeemed him; can the Christian be guiltless in withholding 
his life and property? 

Everything Every beast of the forest is mine, and the 
the Lord's, cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the 

fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the 

field are mine * * The world is mine, and the 

fulness thereof. — Ps. 50:10-12. 
Heaven and Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens 
earth. is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that 

therein is. — Deut. 10:14. 
"Whatso- Whatsoever is under the wholei iieaven is 

ever." mine. — Job. 41:11. 

Earth and The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness there- 

people, of; the world, and they that dwell therein. — Ps. 

24:1. 
Silver and The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith 

gold. the Lord of hosts. — Hag. 2:8. 

All things. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



225 



"Thine 
own." 



"Thine 
own." 



All things 
from him. 



Even 
power to 
get wealth. 



The rob- 
ber's fate. 



power, and the glory, and the victory, and the 
majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the 
earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, 
and thou art exalted as head above all. — 1 Chron. 
29:11. 

But who am I, and what is my people, that 
we should be able to offer so willingly after this 
sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine 
own have we given thee. — 1 Chron 29:14, 

O Lord our God, all this store that we have 
prepared to build thee a house for thine holy 
name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own. 
— 1 Chron. 29:16. 

Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou 
reignest over all; and in thine hand is power 
and might; and in thine hand it is to make great. 
1 Chron. 29:12. 

But thou Shalt remember the Lord thy God: 
for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, 
that he may establish his covenant which he 
swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day. — Deut. 
8:18. 

The Lord hath made all things for himself: 
yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. — ^Prov., 
16:4. 



57. MY STEWARDSHIP. 



In the following study a large number of texts are cited: 
on giving in general, under seven heads, but with special 
reference in all to the second division, "Our Stewardship."" 
A proper recognition of our stewardship obligation and the 
faithful discharge of it in the free and large use of oar- 
means in giving for God's work in the world is not loss but 
great gain. Saving is losing and giving is gaining. Giving 
is laying up treasure in heaven. It will be a great surprise 
to find many very poor in heaven who were counted rich on 
earth. What folly to want to be rich here for a moment but 
poor there for an eternity. Only the careless sinner is making 
a greater mistake. O that Christians would awake and begin 



226 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

to put their treasure where it will never perish. 

Not only will larger giving be more treasure, bring larger 
reward in heaven, but such giving will enlarge and enrich our 
lives here. There can be no large growth in grace, real 
soul expansion with little giving; it is impossible. Little 
giving is a clamp on the soul. The spiritual life is in « 
vise; it cannot expand. Thousands of Christians can testify 
that they only began to live as they began to give, and that 
their living has kept pace with their giving all the way. 
The soul was made free and could soar and sing as the pocket 
book opened up wider for God. Giving is a means of grace, 
a large part of God's method of grace. God's giving spiritual 
things to us depends much upon our giving material things to 
him. A careful reading of the first twelve verses of the 
sixteenth chapter of Luke will make this very plain. 

If we could only see Jesus Christ in his suffering life 
of sacrifice and service for us we would be ashamed of our 
little giving and would be constrained to give more freely, 
and we would then find the larger life we have been pray- 
ing for, but have never come into, because we have all along 
been withholding from God. A beautiful illustration of this 
is seen in the life of Count Zinzendorf, the Moravian hero, 
who poured out his wealth and gave the service of his life- 
time gladly that the gospel of Christ might be preached and 
His kingdom extended among men. 

He was one day standing in a famous picture gallery at 
Dusseldorf when his eye fell upon a noble painting represent- 
ing the Son of Man, in all the agony of his sacrifice, crowned 
with thorns, and with bleeding hands and side. And written 
upon this picture was this inscription, "All this I did for 
thee; what doest thou for me?" This rich and hitherto idle 
nobleman stood transfixed. He saw the littleness and base- 
ness of a selfish life, as contrasted with the immeasurable 
greatness of the divine love and from the picture gallery he 
went out that day to a life of burning zeal and sublime 
heroism, and to say henceforth, "I have but one passion, 
aiid that is He— only He!" God help us to get a similar 
vision. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 227 

"OUR STEWARDSHIP." 

Man owns nothing absolutely. As between man and 
man lie may be said to own the things to which he has a 
title, that strife may be avoided, but as between man and 
God, man is a tenant only, a fact we too often and easily lose 
sight of. As tenants and not owners we owe the real owner, 
God, some definite return or rental for the use of the things 
. he permits us to have and by custom to call ours. We must 
answer for soil and product, self and life. 

What would we think of a landlord who would allow a 
tenant to use his property year after year without paying 
£LTiy rent, or only a few cents or dollars occasionally as he 
happened to "feel like it?" Do we know any one who reilts 
property that way? Would we not think an owner foolish 
who would do business that way? Do we think the Divine 
Owner is more foolish than human so-called owners would 
be? Well he is not. A day of reckoning is coming. Would 
we,- pretending to be owners, masquerading as very "lords of 
creation," take our tenant by the throat, in a legal not literal 
way of course, and exact the last cent of rent, and then 
refuse ourselves to give a definite amount to the real owner, 
God? Treat him in a way we would never allow another to 
treat us? Is this not exactly the way we as tenants are 
treating God? And does not our own conduct condemn us 
in this as unjust, unfaithful tenants or stewards? These 
are serious questions demanding an honest answer from 
every one of us. 

To be consistent we must give God a definite part of 
our income or else rent our own property out after this~for 
just what any one pleases to give us, and the principle is the 
same whether we have any property or not. 

Again, what would we think of a tenant using another's 
property, with little or nothing returned to the owner for 
five, twenty or forty years or more, and at the end of that 
time, willing it away from the owner to his own relatives 
or friends? It is not meant in this that it is wrong to owj 
property or to will it to some one at our death. But it is 
meant that we must not lose sight of the fact for a moment 
that God is the real owner, that we are only stewards, and 



228 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



that we are to faithfully use what he has intrusted us with 
while we live, returning him a fair percentage, and to thought- 
fully, prayerfully consider the disposition of it in our wills 
at our death, giving some portion at least back to the real 
owner for his work. If I am worth $10,000 at my death, I 
should bequeath $1,000 at least, perhaps much more, for 
religious purposes. Let us not forget this. We are only 
stewards, and the Word says, "Give account of thy steward- 
ship." What rent is required? See next study. 

I. We Receive All We Have. 
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as 
though he needed anything, seing he giveth to all 
life, and breath, and all things. — Acts 17:25. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from 
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,, 
with whom is no variableness, neither shadow 
of turning. — J as. 1:17. 

II. Our Stewardship. 
And unto one he gave five talents, to another 
two, and to another one; to every man according 
to his several ability; and straightway took his 
journey. — Matt. 25:15. 

And he called his ten servants, and delivered 
unto them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy 
till I come.— Lu. 19:13. 

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the 
unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your 
trust the true riches? — Lu. 16:11. 

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a 
man be found faithful. — 1 Cor. 4:2. 

Give an account of thy stewardship. — Lu. 16:2.- 

III. Giving Commanded. 
Every man shall give as he is able, according 
to the blessing of the I^^ord thy God which he 
hath given thee. — Deut. 16:17. 

Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in. 
faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all 
diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye 
abound in this grace also. (Grace of giving.) — 
2 Cor. 8:7. 



"Life and 
breath." 

"All 
things." 



The 
talents 



The 
pounds. 

The test. 



The 
reckoning. 



Old 
Testa- 
ment. 
New 
Testament 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



229 



Rich give Charge them that are rich in this world, that 

largely. they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain 
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly- 
all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they 
be rich in good works, ready to distribute, will- 
ing to communicate. — 1 Tim. 6:17,18. 
IV. Motives. 
Christ's For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus 

example. Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your 
sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty 
might be rich.— 2 Cor. 8:9. 
Sufficiency. And God is able to make all grace abound 
toward you; that ye, always having all suffi- 
ciency in all things, may abound to every good 
work. — 2 Cor. 9:8. 
Much Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the 

received. dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, 

freely give. — Matt. 10:8. 
Receive Give, and it shall be given unto you; good 

as we give, measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and 
running over, shall men give into your bosom. 
For with the same measure that ye mete withal 
it shall be measured to you again. — Lu. 6:38. 
"More I have shown you all things, how that so 

blessed." laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to 
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he 
said. It is more blessed to give than to receive. 
—Acts 20:35. 

V. Spirit and Amount. 

"Willing." Now therefore perform the doing of it; that 

According as there was a readiness to will, so there may 

to our be a performance also out of that which ye have. 

means. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted 

according to that a man hath, and not according 

to that he hath not. For I mean not that other 

men be eased and ye burdened : but by an equality, 

that now at this time your abundance may be a 

supply for their want, that their abundance also 

may be a supply for your want; that there may 

be equality. — 2 Cor. 8:11-14. 



230 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Cheerfully. 



"Bounti- 
fully." 



Prosperity 



temporal 

and 
spiritual. 



Every one 
men and 
women; 
willing 
givers 



and gifts. 



Temple 
gifts: 



Every man according as he purposetti In hia 
heart, so let him give; not grudingly, or of 
necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. — 2 
Cor. 9:7. 

But this I say. He which soweth sparingly 
shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth 
bountifully shall reap also bountifully.— 2 Cor. 9:6. 
VI. Result To Us. 

Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with 
the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall 
thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses 
shall burst out with new wine. — Prov. 3:9,10. 

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; 
and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, 
but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall 
be made fat: and he that watereth shall be 
watered also himself. — Prov. 11:24,25. 
VII. Examples. 

And they came, every one whose heart stirred 
him up, and every one whom his spirit made 
willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to 
the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, 
and for all his service, and for the holy garments. 
And they came, both men and women, as many 
as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets^ 
and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels 
of gold: and every man that offered, offered 
an offering of gold. — Ex. 35:21,22. 

The children of Israel brought a willing offer- 
ing unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose 
heart made them willing to bring for all manner 
of work, which the Lord had commanded to be 
made by the hand of Moses. — Ex. 35:29. 

Then the chief of the fathers and princes of 
the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands 
and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's 
work, offered willingly, and gave, for the service 
of the house of God, of gold five thousand talents 
and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thous- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 231 

and talents, and of brass eighteen thousand 
talents, and one hundred thousand talents of 
iron. — 1 Chron. 29:6,7. 
free, large, Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered 
willingly, because with perfect heart they offered 
willingly to the Lord; and David the king also 
rejoiced with great joy. — 1 Chron. 29:9. 
joyful. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart 

I have willingly offered all these things: and 
now have I seen with joy thy people, which are 
present here, to offer willingly unto thee. (For 
yet larger giving, see Mark 12:41-44.) — 1 Chron. 
29:17. 

58. TITHING. 
"The tithe is the Lord's; it is holy unto the Lord." This 
was said of the fruit of field, flock and herd, Lev. 27:30, 32, 
and God has never relinquished his claim. This should be 
the minimum mark of our appreciation of all God's goodness^ 
and mercj^ to us, and the least to be thought of by us as the 
basis of our final accounting. The tithe v/as and is no part 
of the ceremonial law. That was all abolished in Christ. 
But the tithe both preceded and followed the ceremonial law 
as a part of God's great financial plan for his people in all- 
ages. He knew what would be best for them. It was given 
for a definite purpose and the same need exists today. The 
tithe is not ceremonial but moral, a kind of eleventh com- 
mandment, to stand with the rest of God's moral law as 
long as time shall last. It was never abrogated, distinct 
references to its continuance appearing in numerous places 
in the New Testament. It is just as much in force today as 
either one of the ten commandments and where is there any 
one bold enough to say we can break one of those and not be 
guilty? We can rise above them, but they are still there 
as the foundation of all law in the world. We teach them 
to our children and feel the force of them ourselves, and 
so precisely is it with the tithe. 

Will anyone say because we are "under grace and not 
under law," therefore we can take the life of another and 
not be guilty of murder? Or be loose in our observance of 



232 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

the marriage relation and not be guilty of adultery? Or 
careless in the observance of the Sabbath and not be guilty 
of breaking the fourth commandment? We know better 
than this. In like manner can we refuse to give our tithe 
and not be guilty of robbing God? 

As a man is under water until he rises above It, so we 
are under all these requirements until we rise above them. 
We rise above the sixth commandment when by grace or 
through grace we not only do not take another's life, but we 
do not indulge the hatred in our heart toward another that 
Jesus says would make us a murderer. We rise above the 
seventh commandment when by grace we not only do not 
commit adultery but we do not allow unchallenged in our 
heart the lustful desire that Jesus says would make us an 
adulterer. And so with the Sabbath and the tithe, one- 
seventh of our time and one-tenth of our money. We rise 
above both of these when by grace we keep them according 
to both the letter and the spirit, the New Testament law of 
love, which requires more and not less. If we break the 
fourth, sixth, or seventh or any other commandment we are 
guilty and will suffer a penalty. In like manner if we fall 
below the tithe in our giving we are guilty and will suffer a 
penalty. May God help us to get this reasoning into our 
hearts, and awake to this new-old duty and privilege of 
tithing. 

The duty and privilege of tithing is clearly taught In 
both the Old and New Testaments, as seen in this study. 
For a fuller treatment than is possible here see the leaflets 
by the author, "Seven Reasons for Tithing," "Benefits and 
Blessings of Tithing," and "How to Tithe." 

If we could only get our eyes just a little open, catch a 
glimpse of the world's suffering, hopeless, perishing condi- 
tion, millions dying without the gospel; and if we could 
get our ears just a little unstopped, long enough to hear the 
first word of our Lord's command to send the good news 
of salvation to them; and then know that the giving of our 
tithe would meet the world's need, saving millions to God 
and heaven and eternal glory, to ourselves in an unspeak- 
ably blissful fellowship throughout a never ending eternity, 
I do not see how we could refuse our tithe. Do we not want 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



233 



to see and hear and know? 

Again, if we could get a picture, see it as it is, of God's 
wonderful goodness on the one hand in showering upon us 
such an abundance of this world's wealth, hundreds, thous- 
ands, millions of money, to say nothing of the infinite bless- 
ings of his salvation and grace; and then on the other hand 
see the little dribbling stream of pennies, nickels and dimes, 
with now and then a stray dollar that we are doling out 
to save a world, we would surely be ashamed and say peni- 
tently and sincerely, "Here, Lord, I give my tithe to thee; 
'Tis little enough to do." I say, "If we could get the pic- 
ture!" God help us to see it before it is too late. 
First And blessed be the most high God, which hath 

instance, delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he 
gave him tithes of all. — Gen. 14:20. 

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, 
shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt 
give me I will surely give the tenth to thee. — 
Gen. 28:22. 

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the 
seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the 
Lord's: it is holy unco the Lord. — Lev. 27:30. 

And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the 
flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, 
the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord — Lev. 
27:32. 

And, behold, I have given the children of Levi 
all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for 
their service which they serve, even the service 
of the tabernacle of the congregation. — Num. 
18:21. 

But the thithes of the Children of Israel, which 
they offer as a heave offering unto the Lord, I 
have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I 
have said unto them, Among the children of 
Israel they shall have no inheritance. — Num. 18:24. 
Thus speak unto the Levites and say unto 
them, When ye take of the children of Israel the 
tithes which I have given you from them for your 
inheritance, then ye shall offer up a heave offer- 



Abraham 
Second 
example, 
Jacob. 

The law. 



Fields and 
flocks. 



For the 
Levites. 



The tithe 

their 

portion. 



Levites 
tithe also 



234 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Hezekiah's 

loyal 

example. 



Curse for 
disobedi- 
ence. 



God's 
house and 
service 
neglected. 



ing of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the 
tithe.— Num. 18:26. 

Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt 
in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests 
and the Levites, that they might be encouraged 
in the law of the Lord. And as soon as the com- 
mandment came abroad, the children of Israel 
brought in abundance the firstfruits of com, 
wine and oil, and honey, and of all the increase 
of the field; and the tithe of all things brought 
they in abundantly. And concerning the child- 
ren of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities 
of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen 
and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which 
were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and 
laid them by heaps. In the third month they be- 
gan to lay the foundation of the heaps, and fin- 
ished them in the seventh month. And when Hez- 
ekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps 
they blessed the Lord, and his people Israel. 
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and 
the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah 
the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered 
him, and said. Since the people began to bring the 
offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had 
enough to eat, and have left plenty; for the Lord 
hath blessed his people; and that which is left is 
this great store. — Chron. 31:4-10. 

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. 
But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In 
tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: 
for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. — • 
Mai. 3:8,9. 

And I perceived that the portion of the Levites 
had not been given them: for the Levites and the 
singers, that did the work, were fled everyone 
to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, 
and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And 
I gathered them together and set them in their 
place.— Neh. 13:10,11. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 235 

Plagued. I liave smitten you -with blasting and mildew: 

when your gardens and your vineyards and your 
fig trees and your olive trees increased, the pal- 
merworm devoured them: yet have ye not return- 
ed unto me, saith the Lord. — Amos 4:9. 
Command Bring ye all the tithes into the store house, 

and that there may be meat in mine house, and prove 

promise. me nov/ herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I 
End of Old will not open you the windows of heaven, and 
Testament, pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be 

room enough to receive it. — Mai. 3:10. 
Jesus In Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 

the New crites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and 
Testament, cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters 
of the law, judgment, mercy and faith: these 
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other 
undone. — Matt. 23:23. 
The Do you not know that they which minister 

same about holy things live of the things of the tem- 

pule pie? and they which wait at the altar are par- 

recognlzed. takers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord 
ordained that they^ which preach the gospel 
should live of the gospel. — 1 Cop. 9:13, 14. 

Upon the first day of the week let every one 
of you lay by him in store, as God hath prosper- 
ed him, that there be no gatherings when I 
come. — 1 Cor. 16:2. 

And here men that die receive tithes; but 
there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed 
that he liveth.— Heb. 7:8. 

59. TEMPERANCE. 

The magnitude of the liquor traffic in the United States 
and its attendant evils is almost beyond belief. Until recently 
the consumption of liquors of all kinds had been increasing 
three times as fast as the population of the country, equaling 
only a few years ago about twenty gallons yearly for every 
man, woman and child. The government tax or revenue 
from this amounted to $2.25 per capita. A prominent writer 



236 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

and lecturer gives the following startling figures: "Of 
16,000,000 young men in the United States, 10,500,000 of them 
have already contracted the drink habit. In one year we 
gave $1,350,000 more to support the liquor traffic than we did 
to support the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and $1,325,000 
more to support the saloon and damn the boys and girls 
than we did to educate them. We are sending our boys out 
into the world where we have placed more death-traps than 
we have saving stations, 116,000 more licensed liquor saloons 
than we have churches, more saloon keepers than preachers, 
more saloon keepers than teachers, more gambling dens 
than Sunday Schools, more brothels than Christian Endeavor 
Societies." With such facts before us it is about time tlie 
country should awaken. A few of the mighty facts, figures 
and forces making for temperance might profitably engage 
the attention of all. The figures all fall within the last 
decade. 

1. The people are beginning to awake to the foolish, 
needless waste of so much money, $1,750,000,000 direct loss 
every year, besides vastly more indirect, that all might be 
saved to the enriching rather than the impoverishing of 
the people. Note these figures on cost of drink in the 
United States: 

Annual drink bill $1,750,000,000. 

Materials in manufacture 150,000,000. 

Loss of labor by drunkenness 640,000,000. 

Cost of crime caused by liquor 310,580,000. 

Cost of labor in the traffic 500,000,000. 

Cost of sickness by drinking 125.500,000. 

Pauper expense 10,120,000. 

Insanity caused by drink 4,800,000. 

Total annual cost $3,491,000,000. 

Total revenues 190,000,000. 

Total annual loss $3,491,000,000. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 237 

War and navy cost $ 90,000,000. 

National debt 962,000,000. 

Tariff collected 200,000,000. 

Governmnet running expense 450,000,000. 

Pensions 160,000,000. 

Annual loss by fire 158,000,000. 

Net earnings of all railroads 359,000,000. 2,379,000,000. 



Loss above all expense and 

earnings $ 922,000,000. 



What this vast total of over $3,000,000,000, of loss by the 
liquor traffic could do for the uplift of the people, especially 
the poor, it is almost impossible to calculate. 

2. The people are beginning to awaken to the awful 
loss of life every year, and other unspeakably sad effects. 
Sixty thousand annually fill drunkards' graves, a larger 
number of deaths every year than have been caused by all 
the wars in our history as a nation combined, omitting the 
civil war; one suicide every seventy minutes, one murder 
every hour, three-fourths of all these caused by liquor. As 
farther results consider that from fifty to eighty per cent 
of general crime is caused by liquor; fifty per cent of the 
feeble minded and seventy per cent of the insane caused by 
it. It is carefully not rashly stated that one of every three 
children is murdered before birth, by this awful traffic, 
500,000 every year, 1,393 every day. It would seem time 
that we were awakening. 

3. The teaching in our public schools is a mighty force 
in favor of temperance today. 

4. The Sunday School and pulpit are also great powers 
in the right direction. Real religion will save and help tre- 
mendously, even if some do not appreciate it as a great force. 
Many have failed through disregarding or despising religion, 
who might have succeeded grandly, but for their unbelief. 
Mr. J. B. Gough relates that he heard the Hon. Thomas Mar- 
shall, of Kentucky, make a ten minutes' speech in Broadway 
Tabernacle, in which he said, "Were this great globe one 
chrysolite, and I offered the possession if I would drink 



238 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

one glass of brandy, I would refuse it with scorn; and I 
want no religion, I want the temperance pledge." With that 
wonderful voice of his he thundered out, "We want no 
religion in this movement; let it be purely secular, and 
keep religion where it belongs." Mr. Gough adds, "Poor 
Tom Marshall, with all his self-confidence, fell, and died at 
Poughkeepsie in clothes given him by Christian charity." 

5. Great corporations as well as many in smaller lines 
of business are coming to see that drinking among their 
men is greatly hindering their business and many are refus- 
ing to employ men who drink, a very practical working 
force. 

6 The success of the prohibition movement almost 
everywhere is giving great encouragement to the advocates 
of temperance. 

7. Last but not least are all the temperance organiza- 
tions of the country, especially the W. C. T. U. All these 
forces working together are producing a; strong sentiment 
all over the country in favor of the abolishment of this 
great evil. And it is time. A great cry went up a few 
years ago against King Leopold's Congo atrocities. Let us 
look at ourselves a little. Without justifying him a particle, 
it is yet true that all the suffering he caused on the Congo 
in his lifetime, would not equal the suffering caused by 
the drink traffic in this country in six months. What a tre- 
mendous cry against "graft," official and political corruption 
and industrial oppression, trusts, monopolies, etc., is rising 
continually all over the country, and what silence about this 
giant evil. The total loss annually by graft and oppression 
is only as one to ninety-six compared with the monstrous 
liquor business. Make two squares, one two and one-half 
inches each way, the other, one-fourth of one inch each way. 
the first will represent the liquor business, the other all 
graft, boodle and opppression. Or, take a line three inches 
long, and another one-thirty-second of one inch long; the 
lines will illustrate the same as the squares. 

The Bible view of temperance is given in the following 
study. There is no approval of intoxicants or of drunkards 
in the Bible. Every where the business is condemned. The 
wine spoken of in Is. 55:1, to which the gospel and its 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



239 



blessings is compared, and the wine made by Jesus at 
Cana, and that used by him in instituting his supper was 
unfermented, not intoxicating. There was such wine. God 
does not contradict himself, forbid the use of such, and then 
make and give it to men to drink. Note the seven points of 
this study, four results of intemperance, one exhortation, 
two promises, three warnings, four commands, five woes, 
and "our rule." 

I. Results of Intemperance. 
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come 
to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man 
with rags. — Pro v. 23:21. 

But they also have erred through wine and 
through strong drink are out of the way; the 
priest and the prophet have erred through strong 
drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are 
out of the way through strong drin!^; they err 
in vision, they stumble in judgment. — Is. 28:7. 

Whoredom and wine and new wine take away 
the heart. — Hos. 4:11. 
Disqualifies It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for 
for public kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong 
drink: lest they drink, and forget the law, and 
pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.— - 
Prov. 31:4,5. 

11. One Exhortation. 
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in 
rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and 
wantonness, not in strife and envying. — Rom. 
13:13. 

III. Two Promises. 
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is 
the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due 
season, for strength, and not for drunkenness. 
— Eccl. 10:17. 

And to knowledge, temperance; and to tem- 
perance, patience; and to patience, godliness. — 
2 Pet. 1:6. 

IV. Three Warnings. 
A mocker. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and 



Poverty. 



Perverted 
judgment. 
Blunted 
moral 



sensibility. 



office 
or trust. 



Six bad 

compan- 
ions. 



One 

national, 
one 
individual. 



240 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



''Take 
heed." 



A 

mighty 
chain. 
Study these 
closely. 



Carousing, 
and 

drunken- 
ness, 



Six woes 
In one. 



Saloon- 
keeper. 
"Treating." 

The mighty 
not escape. 



Abstain for 
the sake of 



whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. — Prov. 
20:1. 

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time 
your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and 
drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that 
day come upon you unawares. (See Matt. 
24:48-51.)— Lu. 21:34. 

V. Four Commandments. 

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess 
— Eph. 5:18. 

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, 
when it giveth his color in the cup, when it 
moveth itself aright. — Prov. 23:31. 

Be not among winehibhers; among riotous 
eaters of flesh. — Prov. 23:20. 

Abstain from all appearance of evil. — 1 Thes. 
5:22. 

VI. Five Woes. 

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a 
child, and thy princes eat in the morning. — 
Eccl. 10:16. 

Woe unto them that rise up early in the 
morning, that they may follow strong drink; 
that continue until night, till wine inflame them. 
—Is. 5:11. 

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath 
contentions? who hath babbling? who hath 
wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go 
to seek mixed wine. — Prov. 23:29,30. 

Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, 
that putteth thy bottle to him, and maketh him 
drunken also, that thou mayest look on their 
nakedness. — Hab. 2:15. 

Woe unto them that are mighty to drinK wine, 
and men of strength to mingle strong drink. — 
Is. 5:22. 

VII. Our Rule. 

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink 
wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth^ 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 241 

others. or is offended, or is made weak. — Rom. 14:21. 

Drunkard's Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor 
end. revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the king- 

dom of God.— 1 Cor. 6:10. 

60. WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? 

Henry Drummond, in one of his lectures, gave this defi- 
nition of a Christian by a poor, ignorant, sinblinded 
cynic: "A Christian man is a man whose great aim in life 
is a selfish desire to save his own soul, who, in order to do 
that, goes regularly to church, and whose supreme hope is 
to get to heaven when he dies." Nothing could be farther 
from the truth. This is really the picture of one who is not 
a Christian, one who only has a profession, a mere church 
member. In contrast with the above, note what Mr. Spur- 
geon said in the same direction: "It is a wretched business 
for a man to call himself a Christian and have a soul which 
never peeps out from between his own ribs. It is horrible 
to be living to be saved, living to get to heaven, living to 
enjoy religion, and yet never to live to bless others and ease 
the misery of a moaning world." 

A Christian (Christ-i-an) means a true follov/er of Christ. 
Three things are absolutely essential to such a follower: he 
must have repented of his sin toward God, believed with all 
his heart in the Lord Jesus Christ, and been regenerated, or 
"born again" by the power of the Holy Spirit, a triple con- 
nection with the triune God. It is not "thinking we are good 
enough," or "trying to do better," that makes us Christians. 
All this we could do without any help from heaven. A man 
can be moral without being Christian, but he cannot be 
Christian without being moral. To be Christian is to be 
moral and more. To the moral virtues of truth, honesty, and 
generosity we must add the Christian graces of faith, hope 
and love, and these can only come through the "new birth," 
a very radical change, one as great as passing from darkness 
to light, or from the nature of a lion to that of a lamb. A 
tiger cub may be tamed, but a taste of blood will bring out 
the ferocious nature of the beast. Morality is only human 
nature tamed, good as far as it goes, but our nature must 



242 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

be radically changed, transformed, and this can only be done 
by the power of the Spirit of God, and is done in real con- 
version. Through the degenerating power of the evil spirit 
we are made children of the evil one. Through the regener- 
ating power of the good Spirit we may be made children of 
the Blessed One. Note in this study seven Bible titles and 
characteristics of a Christian. We must be a Christian in 
order to live a Christian. 

The name. And the disciples were called Christians first 

in Antioch. — Acts 11:26. 

I. Seven Titles. 
A believer. 1. He that believeth on the Son of God hath 
the witness in himself: he that believeth not God 
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not 
the record that God gave of his Son. And this is 
the record, that God hath given us eternal life, 
and this life is in his Son, He that hath the Son 
hath life; and he that hath not the Son hath not 
life. These things have I written unto you that 
believe on the name of the Son of God. — 1 J no. 
5:10, 13. 
A child. 2. Behold what manner of love the Father 

hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the 
sons of God. — 1 Jno. 3:1. 
A saint. 3. Unto the church of God which is at Cor- 

inth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, 
called to be saints. — 1 Cor. 1:2. 
A friend. 4. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the 

servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I 
have called you friends; for all things that I have 
heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 
—Jno. 15:15. 
/A Soldier. 5. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good 

soldier of Jesus Christ. — 2 Tim. 2:3. 
A pilgrim. 6. These all died in faith, not having received 

the promises, but having seen them afar off, and 
were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and 
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims 
on earth.— Heb. 11:13. 
An heir. 7. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, 

and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suf- 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 243 

fer with him, that we may he also glorified to- 
gether, — Rom. 8:17. 

II. Seven Characteristics. 

Not 1. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having 

look back, put his hand to the plough, and looking hack, 
is fit for the kingdom of heaven.— Lu. 9:62. 

Self-denial. 2. And he said to them all, If any man will 
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up 
his cross daily, and follow me. — Lu. 9:23. 

Hear 3. And there came a voice out of the cloud, 

Christ. saying, This is my beloved Son; hear him. — 

Lu. 9:35. 

Bear cross. 4. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, 
and come after me, cannot be my disciple. — Lu. 
14:26. 

Faithful. 5. He that is faithful in that which is least, 

is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in 
the least is unjust also in much. — Lu. 16:10. 

Humble. 6. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down 

in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee 
cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up 
higher: then shalt thou have worship in the pres- 
ence of them that sit at meat with thee. — Lu. 
14:10. 

Compas- 7. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, 

sionate. was neighbor unto him that fell among the 
thieves? and he said. He that showed mercy on 
him. Then said Jesus unto him. Go, and do thou 
likewise. — Lu. 10:36,37. 

61. THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR. 

One of the most common and familiar figures in the 
Bible is that which represents the Christian life as a war- 
fare. Each individual Christian is a soldier, all together con- 
stitute the Lord's army, and Jesus Christ is our Great Cap- 
tain. As God's people in the old dispensation waged a literal 
warfare for the possession of the earthly Canaan, so his peo- 
ple today are to wage a spiritual warfare for the possession 
of the heavenly Canaan, with two differences. Their wea- 
pons were carnal and they killed, destroyed and drove out 



244: THE BIBLE COMPANION 

the other nations. Our weapons are spiritual, yet "mighty 
through God to the pulling down of strongholds," and our 
work is to save and bring in all people. 

This spiritual work or warfare is much harder than the 
literal, but God has promised, "As thy day is, so shall thy 
strength be," and so he has endued us with the mighty 
power of his Spirit to enable us to do the greater work. He 
has fully equipped and empowered us and Christ is leading 
us on to certain victory, yet he expects every soldier to do 
his duty. In a great battle a soldier deserted and was found 
hiding in a garden. He was tried and condemned to be shot 
as a deserter. His only excuse was, "I have done no harm." 
His sin was one of omission, but it was fatal. Doing nothing 
is sinning in this great spiritual warfare. 

If there were no great conflict between the powers of 
good and evil, light and darkness, heaven and hell, the many 
expressions and terms of war would not be used in the Word, 
or if used, would have no meaning. These terms are not 
meaningless. Bunyan's picture of a Christian with complete 
armor as a soldier is not overdrawn, it is only carrying out 
the Bible view. God has given his people a seven-fold per- 
fect armor, every piece having its place and of infinite worth. 
When God calls souls into his service he gives them his 
armor and expects everyone to put it on and keep it on, and 
make it bright with constant use. It will be noticed that 
God has given us no armor for our backs, for we are expected 
to face our foes and not to run from them. An army is ex- 
pected to keep their uniforms and fighting accoutrements 
clean and bright and ready for instant use. If all Christ's 
army were called together for inspection, what would their 
armor look like? This lesson will repay a careful study. 
Note that five pieces are defensive, two are offensive. 

Introduction. 
A Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may 

comnnand. be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
The For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 

reason. but against principalities, against powers, against 

Called the rules of the darkness of this world, against 

"light" and spiritual wickedness in high places. — Eph. 
"righteous- 6:11,12. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



ness;" con- 
trast dark- 
ness and 
wicked- 
ness. 

Helmet. 



Breast- 
plate. 



Shield. 



Girdle. 



Shoes. 



Sword. 



The night is far spent, the day is at hand: 
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, 
and let us put on the armor of light. — Rom. 13:12. 

By the word of truth, by the power of God, 
by the armor of righteousness on the right hand 
and on the left. — 2 Cor. 6:7. 

1. And take the helmet of salvation. — Eph. 
6:17. 

And for an helmet the hope of salvation. — 
1 Thess. 5:8. 

2. And having on the breastplate of righte- 
ousness. — Eph. 6:14. 

For he put on righteousness as a breastplate. 
—Is. 59:17. 

3. Above all, taking the shield of faith, where- 
with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts 
of the wicked.— Eph. 6:16. 

4. Stand therefore, having your loins girt 
about with truth. — Eph. 6:14. 

Let your loins be girded about, and your 
lights burning. — Lu. 14:35. 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be 
sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is 
to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus 
Christ.— 1 Pet. 1:13. 

5. And your feet shod with the preparation 
of the gospel of peace. — Eph. 6:15. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the 
feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that pub- 
lisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, 
that publisheth salvation; that sayeth unto Zion, 
Thy God reigneth. (Beautiful feet if shod with 
these shoes). — Is. 52:7. 

6. And the sword of the Spirit, which is the 
word of God. — Eph. 6:17. 

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, 
that with it he should smite the nations; and he 
shall rule them with a rod of iron : and he treadeth 
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Al- 
mighty God. And he hath on his vesture and 



246 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

on his thigh, a name written, KING OF KINGS, 
AND LfORD OF LORDS.— Rev. 19:15,16. 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, 
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing 
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, 
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner 
of the thoughts and intents of -the heart. — Heb. 
4:12. 
Prayer. 7. Praying always with all prayer and sup- 

plication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto 
with all perseverance and supplication for all 
saints; and for me, that utterance may be given 
unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to 
make known the mystery of the gospel, for which 
I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I 
may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. — Eph. 
6:18-20. 

62. LOSS AND GAIN. 

It is the great business of Satan and the natural effect 
of sin to blind all mankind to spiritual things, giving us 
perverted ideas of right and wrong, of loss and gain. What 
seem to us gain, sin and self-gratification, are but for a 
moment, and will work for us a real loss for time and eter- 
nity. What seem loss, giving up sin, bearing the cross and 
Christian duty, are but for a moment, and will work us real 
gain for time and eternity. In all worldly enterprises we 
count carefully the gain or loss of any undertaking; how 
much more reason to in matters of eternal interest, and 
how careful we should be not to let an apparent gain for a 
moment shut out a real gain for an eternity, be careful 
about the dross but careless about the gold, like the man 
with the muck-rake in Bunyan's great allegory, with face 
down bent, eagerly drawing in the sticks and straws, and 
never seeing the golden crown just above his head. 

While in lacking Christ everything is loss, and in possess- 
ing him everything is gain, there are yet some things that 
are especial loss, and some others that are great gain. 
Seven distinct losses in rejecting Christ, and living a sinful. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 247 

selfish life might be named, and again seven gains of the 
Christian life, or benefits of true religion, may be given. 
Seven Losses. 

1. Self deified. We do as w^e please; crown ourselves, 
instead of Christ! 

2. The Devil honored, pleased and obeyed. What has 
he done to deserve such honor? 

3. Walking in the dark. Note the disadvantage and loss 
of this in literal things. 

4. Uncertainty, unrest, guilt, fear, shame, condeinna- 
tion, troubled conscience. 

5. The lowest joys of earth. All earthly, and perish, 
with the earth. 

6. A lost soul. Note the soul's worth. How much 
would it weigh in a balance? 

7. The wrath of God. Mercy dispised, turns to consum- 
ing fire. Sad and awful losses. 

Seven Gains. 

1. We glorify God. Only so can we fulfill the purpose 
of our creation. 

2. Honor and obey Christ. He has redeemed us. Such 
a life will please him; we owe it. 

3. My soul saved. The greatest question of this world 
settled right and settled forever. 

4. "Blessed assurance." Peace, rest and joy; faith, 
hope and love. 

5. On the right side. On the side of heaven, and all 
the great and good of earth. 

6. Helping others to get right, in the soul saviiia serv- 
ice; most blessed. 

7. A home above. No flaw in the title; written in the 
very blood of Jesus. Infinite gains. 

A learned philosopher objected to religion, that if he 
should adopt it he should lose all that he had in this world. 
A Christian friend said one never lost anything by serving; 
Christ, and offered to give his bond to indemnify the philoso- 
pher for all losses he should suffer on that account. The 
bond was duly executed, and the philosopher became a pray- 
ing man. Just before his death he sent for his Christian 
friend and gave him the paper, saying, "Take this bond and 



248 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



tear it up. I release you from your promise. Jesus has 
made it up to me a hundredfold for all that I ever did or 
suffered on his account. There is nothing left for you to 
pay. Tell everyTDody that there is great profit in serving 
Christ." See in this study what God says about it in his 
Word. Why not believe and accept it at once? 



Saving is 
losing. 

Take our 
choice. 



Apostles' 
Loss and 
gain. 



Any 
one. 



Little gain. 
Great loss. 



Loving and 



He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he 
that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. — 
Matt. 10:39. 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples. If any 
man will come after me, let him deny himself, 
and take up his cross, and follow me * * * For 
what is a man profited if he shall gain the 
whole world, and lose his own soul? or what 
shall a man give in exchange for his soul? — 
Matt. 16:24,26. 

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Be- 
hold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; 
what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said 
unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which 
have followed me, in the regeneration when the 
Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, 
ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging 
the twelve tribes of Israel.— Matt. 19:27,28. 

And Jesus answered and said. Verily I say 
unto you, There is no man that hath left house, 
or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or 
wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the 
gospel's, but he shall receive a hundredfold now 
in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, 
and mothers, and children, and lands, with perse- 
cutions; and in the world to come eternal life. — 
Mk. 10:29,30. 

And I will say to my soul. Soul, thou hast 
much goods laid up for many years; take thine 
ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said 
unto him. Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be 
required of thee: then whose shall those things 
be, which thou hast provided?— Lu. 12:19,20. 

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 249 

losing. that hateth his life in this world shall keep it 

Good pay. unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him 

follow me; and where I am, there shall also my 

servant be: if any man serve me, him will my 

Father honor. — Jno. 12:25,26. 

Great loss, But what things were gain to me, tnose I 

but greater counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I 

gain. count all things but loss for the excellency of 

the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for 

whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and 

do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. 

—Phil. 3:7,8. 

Gain by If any man's work abide which he hath builded 

loss, thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any 

loss of man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: 

gain. but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

—1 Cor. 3:14,15. 

Loss. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godli- 

Gain. ness is profitable unto all things, having the prom- 

; ; ise of the life that now is, and of that which is 

to come. (All these the words of God. Witnesses: 

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul.)— 1 Tim. 4:8. 

63. PRAYER. 

Prayer, which in its simplicity is talking with God, and 
consists of praise and adoration of God, thanksgiving for 
mercies received, confession of sin, and petition for ourselves 
and others, is reasonable, philosophical and efficacious, not- 
withstanding the doubt or unbelief of some. The Bible is 
full of precepts and promises concerning prayer and of ex- 
amples of its efficiency, both from a spiritual and a literal 
standpoint. 

The reason for prayer lies in the facts that we are in- 
telligent, accountable beings; that God, our Heavenly Father, 
has made us such; that we are still finite, lack wisdom and 
knowledge, are weak and sinful, selfish and sinning and 
wretched and needy creatures; that God is the intelligent 
Creator and upholder and bountiful Benefactor of all, and 
that he, seeing and knowing our condition and necessities, 



250 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

has mercifully told us to "ask," and has also graciously 
promised that if we "ask we shall receive." Prayer is the 
universal language of earth. Every human soul has its de- 
sires, and the view that would deny prayer to God would 
make all the world dumb, for if God cannot hear and 
help his creatures, how vain and useless must be our cry to 
man. 

The philosophy of prayer is fully contained in this text: 
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask 
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you," John 15:7. If 
we abide in him, and his words abide in us perfectly, we will 
ask for only such things as it is his perfect will and pleasure 
to grant us, and how then can He refuse? All answers to 
prayer may not be immediate; God may know that it is best 
for us to wait a little. James 4:3 will explain why some 
prayers are never answered. God often answers our prayers 
by not giving us the things we ask for. In such cases our 
desire is for something that we think will do us good, but 
God is wiser than we are, and knows that it will not, and so 
in mercy withholds it. And as our real good was our "soul's 
sincere desire," or prayer, he has answered it in withholding 
the thing asked for, or in sending us something else. Shakes- 
peare expresses this thought when he says: 
"We, ignorant of ourselves, 

Beg often our own harm ; which the wise powers 

Deny us for our good; so find we profit 

By losing of our prayers." 
While persisting in prayer and faith, let us yet learn to say 
always, "Not my will, but thine be done." 

The efficacy of prayer, whether considered from a 
spiritual standpoint alone, or as having and exerting a 
"power over physical nature," may be known from our own 
individual experience, and from the united positive testimony 
of the entire Christian world, both ancient and modern; but 
especially from the following passages of Scripture, some 
of which, it will be noticed, are of a purely spiritual nature, 
while others prove sufficiently for any reasonable person, 
that prayer has a power over physical nature, finite wisdom 
(or foolishness) to the contrary sometimes. Matt. 7:7-11; 
Mark 11:24; James 5:15; Acts 16:25,26; Acts 12:5-8; 2 Chron. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



251 



7:12-14; James 5:17-18; 1 King 17:17-23. 

As every prophecy is the result of God's foreknowledge, 
so the answer to every true prayer is provided for in God's 
plan from the beginning. The answer is a part of his plan 
and will make no change; is not contrary to law, but in 
perfect accord with it. To not answer prayer would be to 
unsettle all natural and spiritual law. A thousand thrilling 
and pathetic answers to prayer might be given, but space 
forbids. 

I. When? 
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, 
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. — 
Lu. 18:1. 

Be merciful unto me, O Lord; for I cry unto 
thee daily. — Ps. 86:3. 

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and 
sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard 
them.— Acts 16:25. 

II. Where? 
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy 
closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray 
to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father 
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 
(See Mk. 1:35).— Matt. 6:6. 

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall 
agree on earth as touching anyhting that they 
shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Fa- 
ther which is in heaven. For where two or three 
are gathered together in my name, there am I in 
the midst of them.— Matt. 18:19,20. 
A company. These all continued with one accord in prayer 
and supplication, with the women, and Mary the 
mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. — Acts 
1:14. 

III. For Whom? 
Myself. I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine in- 

iquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my 
transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest 
the iniquity of my sin. — Ps. 32:5. 
Enemies. But I say unto you. Love your enemies, bless 



Always. 



Daily. 



in trouble. 



In secret. 



Family, 
or two 
or three 



252 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



One 
Another. 



For all. 



What we 
need. 
Holy 
Spirit. 



Wisdom. 



Real needs. 



In Christ's 
name. 



Abide in 



Him. 
Believe. 
According 
to His will. 

Forgive. 



them that curse you, do good to them that hate 
you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, 
and persecute you. — Matt. 5:44. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray 
one for another, that ye may be healed. The ef- 
fectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail- 
eth much. — Jas. 5:16. 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplica- 
tions, prayers, intercessions, and giving of 
thanks, be made for all men, — 1 Tim. 2:1. 
IV. For What? 

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given 
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall 
be opened unto you. * * ♦ If ye then being 
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your child- 
ren: how much more shall your Heavenly Father 
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? — Lu. 
11:9,13. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, 
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth 
not; and it shall be given him. — Jas. 1:5. 

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, b©- 
cause we keep his commandments, and do those 
things that are pleasing in his sight. — 1 J no. 3:22. 
Vo Conditions. 

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that 
will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the 
Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I 
will do it— Jno. 14:13,14. 

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, 
ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done 
unto you. — J no. 15:7. 

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in 
prayer, believing, ye shall receive. — Matt. 21:22. 

And thi^ is the confidence we have in him, 
that, if we ask anything according to his will, he 
heareth us. — 1 Jno. 5:14. 

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have 
aught against any; that your Father also which 
is in heaven may forgive your trespasses. — Mk, 
11:25. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 253 

Earnestly. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye 

shall search for me with all your heart. — Jer. 

29:13. 

Why we do Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, 

not receive, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. — J as. 4:3. 

64. CHRISTIAN WORK. 

Jesus said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." 
He has set us the example of a great worker. If to he a 
Christian is to be a follower of Christ, then no one can be 
a Christian who is not a worker. When only twelve years 
old the boy Jesus said, "I must be about my Father's busi- 
ness." In the midst of his life's great ministry he says again, 
I must work the works of him that sent me while it is 
day." Again he says to his Father the night before he dies, 
"I have finished the work thou gavest me to do." In the 
kingdom of God and church of Jesus Christ there is work 
for every boy and girl, every man and woman in the world. 
The song we sing, "I want to be a worker for the Lord," is 
good, if we mean it. How many of us can say as Jesus 
said when we get to the end of our day, "I have finished the 
work thou gavest me to do?" And how many can lie down 
with the sweet consciousness that it has been well done? 
Well, we will soon be to the end, and have the joy or the 
sorrow. 

A poor stonecutter came to America. He was homeless 
and without acquaintance. He landed in New York and 
wandered over to Brooklyn seeking employment. He is 
ashamed to beg bread; and yet he is hungry. The yards 
are all full; but he is an expert workman, and a man our 
of charity said, "Well, I .will give you a little work, enougti 
to enable you to pay for your board." He shows him a 
block of stone to work on. What is it? One of many parts 
which are to form some ornament, a bit of fern or flower. 
He goes to work with patient carefulness. By-and-by the 
master comes, says "Well done," takes it away and gives 
him another. And so he continues to work with the skill 
and taste of an artist, and only knows that he is earning 
his bread. He has no idea what use will be made of his 



254 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

work, until one day, walking along the street, and looking 
up at the front of the Art Gallery, he sees the stones 
upon which he has worked. He did not know what they 
were for; but the architect did. And as he stands looking 
at his work on that structure, which is the beauty of the 
whole street, the tears drop down from his eyes, and he 
says, "I am glad I did it well." Daily as he passes he says 
to himself exultingly, "1 did it well." He is not ashamed 
to see his work or to have it seen. God is the great Archi- 
tect of a far more magnificent work than the Brooklyn Art 
Gallery. Each one of us is a workman on this building ot 
God, carving with careful or with careless, clumsy hand 
the parts that are to never perish. Shall our work be so 
well done as to occupy a conspicuous place, or shall it be 
hidden away? Our work though small may be a gem of 
beauty if well done. We must not let the seeming littleness 
of what we are doing prevent our fidelity. If we do the 
best we can with our work, really put our heart in it, God 
will let us see after a while where he has put our work, 
and we shall be glad with a great joy. 

"Let none hear you idly saying. 
There is nothing I can do, 
While the souls of men are dying 

And the Master calls for you. 
Take the task he gives you gladly; 

Let his work your pleasure be; 
Answer quickly when he calleth, 
'Here am I, send me, send me.' " 
Note in all the fifteen working points of this study how 
Jesus sets us the pattern. 

Jesus. 1. I must work the works of him that sent 

me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no 
man can work. — Jno. 9:4. 
Believing. 2. Jesus answered and said unto them. This 

is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 
he hath sent— Jno. 6:29. 
Children. 3. And he went down with them, and came 

to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his 
mother kept all these sayings in her heart.— 
Lu. 2:51. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



255 



Baptism. 4. And it came to pass in those days, tliat 

Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was 
baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway 
coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens 
opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending 
upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, 
saying. Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am 
well pleased. — Mk. 1:9-11. 
Prayer. 5, And in the morning, rising up a great 

while before day, he went out, and departed into 
a solitary place, and there prayed. — Mk. 1:35. 
Preaching. 6. Now after that John was put in prison, 

Jesus came into Galilee,preaching the gospel of 
the kingdom of God, and saying. The time is ful- 
filled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent 
ye, and believe the gospel. — Mk. 1:14,15. 
Attendance 7, 8. And they went into Capernaum; and 
and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into 

teacliing. the synagogue, and taught. And they were as- 
tonished at his doctrine; for he taught them as 
one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 
— Mk. 1:21,22. 
Giving 9. As thou has sent me into the world, even 

light. so have I also sent them into the world. — J no. 

17:18. 
Saving For the Son of man is come to seek and to 

life. save that which was lost. — Lu. 19:10. 

Good 10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord 

works, unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good 

work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.— - 
€oI. 1:10. 
like Jesus. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the 

Holy Ghost and with power: who went about 
doing good, and healing all that were oppressed 
with the devil; for God was with him. — Acts 
10:38. 
Self- 11. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus 

denial. Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your 

sakes he became poor, that ye through his pov- 
erty might be rich. — 2 Cor. 8:9. 



256 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Giving. 



Suffer. 



Death. 



Reward. 



Like 
works. 



12. Who gave himself for our sins, that he 
might deliver us from this present evil world, 
according to the will of God and our Father. — 
Gal. 1:4. 

13. For even hereunto were ye called; be- 
cause Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an 
example, that we should follow his steps. — 1 Pet. 
2:21. 

14. And being found in fashion as a man, he 
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, 
even the death of the cross. — Phil. 2:8. 

15. Look to yourselves, that we lose not 
those things which we have wrought, bui that 
we receive a full reward. — 2 J no. 8. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that be- 
lieveth on me, the works that I do shall he do 
also; and greater works than these shsiU he do; 
because I go unto my Father. — J no. 14:12. 



65. TWELVE STEPS IN BACKSLIDING. 



Saved souls have many and varied experiences. Some 
under favorable conditions are not only converted, regener- 
ated, but pass at once into a blessed, most gracious and 
useful state. Others, though "born again," from unfavorable 
conditions, home life, bad associations, cold church, do not 
get a right start, "backslide" and are dwarfed from the very 
beginning, yet subsequently under more spiritual conditions 
these may awaken as it were and get new desires, longing for 
a new experience of grace, a richer and better life. 

God is always waiting to feed his hungry child. "Blessed 
are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they 
shall be filled." When this new measure of grace, fuller 
and richer experience of life comes, as it does to many, a 
real soul awakening, a blessed day of peace after a long 
night of wandering, it is sometimes mistaken for a "secona 
blessing," or "sinless perfection." It is a new blessing in- 
deed, yet not differing in nature, only in extent of blessing, 
and the terms spoken of are misleading. Again, some who 
have "made a profession of religion" without being really 
converted, are afterwards connverted, and mistaking their 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 257 

first experience for conversion, now suppose they have the 
second blessing, entire sanctification, sinless perfection, aw 
it is called, when it is simply the gracious and blessed ex- 
perience of real conversion. 

While the blessed life is always possible, there are many 
true yet weak Christians backslidden in heart, and always 
danger to even the strongest, the "world, the flesh and the 
devil" being stronger than many are aware of. "Let him 
that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." This 
study is given to show the danger spots, the thin places, 
that we may avoid them. Mr. Moody said amusements were 
a most prolific source of this trouble. After an absence of 
eight years, he found that nineteen out of twenty backsliders 
from the ranks of his former converts had been drawn away 
by the public-house. Elder Knapp once described the differ- 
ence between a mere professor and a real Christian in this 
blunt but forcible way. "If you should turn the former out 
of the church he would act like a hog, that turns round and 
tries to root the pen down; but that the other would be 
like a lamb, that looks wistfully towards the fold, and lougs. 
to be within it again." 

Neglect of Christian duty is a great cause of backslidingV 
and prayer is the real test of Christian character. We aii 
remember Christian's guilty sleep in the pleasant arbor, ana 
how he lost his roll, his Christian assurance, not his salva- 
tion, but the joy of it, like the Psalmist, going a consiaerable 
distance before he discovered his loss, and how he returned 
on his knees, weeping until he recovered his roll. The back- 
slider must come back in the. same way. Prayer is the test. 
An earnest Christian woman once came to her pastor in 
great distress. She was under a cloud of doubt, afraid sne 
had committed the unpardonable sin. She couldn't pray, and 
hated to read her Bible. The pastor secured a promise irom 
her that she would not open her Bible again, or attempt to 
pray until he gave her leave. The next day a messenger 
came in great haste for the minister to hurry to the woman's 
house. As he showed his face at the door the good sister 
rushed to him, crying, "Release me! release me quick, or I 
shall pray! I must pray, I will pray! — you shall not nmder 
me!" "Do pray," said the pastor; and that was the end of 
her being "a castaway." 

16 



258 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Neglect of 

secret 

prayer. 

Disregard 

of the 

Bible. 

Neglecting 

public 

worship. 

Critical 

hearing. 



Seeing and 
talking of 
the faults 
of others. 



Easily 
offended. 
Worldli- 
ness. 



Levity. 



Making 
light of 
sin. 

Murmur- 
ing and 
strife. 



1. Yea, thou castetti off fear, and restrainest 
prayer before God. — Job 15:4. 

2. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil 
upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, 
because they have not hearkened unto my words, 
nor to my law, but rejected it. — Jer. 6:19. 

3. Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves 
together, as the manner of some is; but exhort- 
ing one another. — Heb. 10:25. 

4. For the time will come when they will 
not endure sound doctrine; but after their own 
lusts will they heap to themselves teachers, hav- 
ing itching ears. — 2 Tim. 4:3. 

5. And why beholdest thou the mote that 
that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the 
beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou 
say to thy brother. Let me pull out the mote out 
of thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine own 
eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out 
of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly 
to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 
—Matt. 7:3-5. 

6. Great peace have they that love thy law; 
and nothing shall offend them.— Ps. 119:16b. 

7. For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved 
this present world, and is departed unto Thessa- 
lonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 
—2 Tim. 4:10. 

8. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talkmg, nor 
jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giv- 
ing of thanks. — Eph. 5:4. 

9. But they made light of it, and went their 
v/ays, one of his farm, another to his merchan- 
dise.— Matt. 22:5. 

10. Do all things without murmurings and 
disputings. — Phil. 2:14. 

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is 
among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are 
ye not carnal, and walk as men? — 1 Cor. 3:3. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



259 



Secret sin. 11. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord 

will not hear me. — Ps. 66:18. 

Love of 12. When thou art bidden of any man to a 

pre- wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest 

eminence, a more honorable man than thou be bidden of 

him; and he that bade thee and him come and 

say to thee, Give this man place; 'and thou begin 

with shame to take the lowest room. But when 

thou art bidden go and sit down in the lowest 

room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he 

may say unto thee. Friend, go up higher: then 

shalt thou have worship in the presence of them 

that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever ex- 

alteth himself shall be abased; and he that 

humbleth himself shall be exalted. — Lu. 14:8-11. 

Let nothing be done through strife or vain- 
glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem 
other better than themselves. — Phil. 2:3. 

66. SIN. 



The world as God created it, and man occupying it, was 
a place and state of perfect happiness, an Eden indeed, in 
its peace and harmony a heaven here below. It is mani- 
festly far from that now. What makes the difference? 
SIN. A little word but infinite and awful in its conse- 
quences; taken in all its bearings the most awful word in 
the language. What is this awful thing of sin? It is simply 
disobedience, transgression of law both natural and moral 
or spiritual, but especially the latter. This sin or disobedi- 
ence is universal, "All have sinned," and continual; moments, 
hours, days, years, one continual sin, millions of individual 
sins, but all sin and always sin and nothing but sin, before 
conversion, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin"; one dead 
mass of sin, defilement, filth and corruption, justifying God's 
picture, Is. 1:6, "From the sole of the foot even unto the 
head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, 
and putrifying sores." 

. Sin has brought sorrow, sickness, suffering and death; 
has made the earth one vast hospital, a never ending funeral 



260 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

procession and the whole world a cemetery. Sin wrongs 
God and wrongs man. The world is full of this wrong, all 
wrong and always wrong in the main, nations wrong each 
other, and individuals in every relation of life, few if any 
exceptions, in thought, word or deed, wrong each other, and 
all universally wrong God. Commonly we will not 
wrong ourselves, but sin, or wrong doing, is deceitful, and m 
wronging others and God, we really wrong ourselves most. 
Sin is a most deadly boomerang; it will harm other souls, 
but it destroys our own. To continue in sin is to commit 
spiritual suicide. Note seven points of special wrong that 
sin does to our own souls: 

1. Sin blinds the soul. Shuts up the soul's eye to spir- 
itual things. 

2. Sin warps the judgment, making the sins of others 
look large, and our own small. 

3. Sin stupefies the conscience; soul is benumbed, par- 
alyzed; awful state. 

4. iSin corrupts the imagination, desecrates the affec- 
tions, perverts the will; the first sin did this. 

5. Sin deprives the soul of pure, true and real happiness 
here. 

6. Sin unfits the soul for heaven, — death will not re- 
generate. 

7. Sin plunges the soul into hell forever. "The wicked 
shall be turned into hell." 

Sin is certainly an awful thing. One of the worst dis 
eases known in the world, leprosy, is always taken as a 
type to represent sin. Five things, true of the ancient Bible 
leprosy, made it a perfect type of sin: it was incurable, 
hereditary, contagious, loathesome and separating. All this 
is true of sin; no relief by any human means. We have al- 
ready learned that Jesus has the perfect and only remedy for 
the spiritual disease of sin, and if we neglect this remedy, 
the blood of Jesus that cleanses from all sin, there can be 
no hope for any one. We must be separated from our sin, 
or our sin will separate us from God forever. 
Wrongs, But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his 

deceives, own soul: all they that hate me love death. — 
slays. Prow. 8:36. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



261 



»in blinds. 



Hardens. 



Cannot 
deny. 



Death. 



The Great 
Physician. 

Confession 

and 

prayer 

and 

Faith. 



For sin, taking occasion by the commandnaent, 
deceived me, and by it slew me.— Rom. 7:11. 

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that 
are lost: in whom the god of this world hath 
blinded the minds of them which believe not, 
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who 
is the image of God, should shine unto them. 
—2 Cor. 4:3, 4. 

But exhort one another daily, while it is called 
Today; lest any of you be hardened through the 
deceitfulness of sin. — Heb. 3:13. 

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive 
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we say 
that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, 
and his word is not in us. — 1 Jno. 1:8, 10. 

For the wages of sin is death. — Rom. 6:32. 

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth 
forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth 
forth death. — Jas. 1:15. 

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physi- 
cian there? Why then is not the health of the 
daughter of my people recovered? — Jer. 8:22. 

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be 
sorry for my sin. — Ps. 38:18. 

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and 
cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my 
transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.— 
Ps. 51:2,3. 

Believe, . . and thou shalt be saved. — Acts 
16:31. 



67. SOIVIE ERRORS. 



There are a thousand errors in the world and to refute 
them all would require volumes. Only two or three will be 
treated here and that very briefly, Faith Cure, infidelity and 
spiritualism. Most errors arise from a too narrow view of 
the Scriptures, separating or segregating the teachings of 
the Bible, rather than centralizing or focalizing them, bring- 
ing all into harmony. The Bible is a large book, written 



262 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

under a great variety of circumstances, in different places, 
at different times, by different men, with many different 
special objects in view, and yet with one great general ob- 
ject and plan, all directed by one Great Mind, and all in 
perfect accord. A dozen, more or less, Bible texts taken 
from their local setting and ingeniously combined may be 
made to appear to teach truths that have no place whatever 
in the thought of the Book, In this way most if not all of 
the errors prevalent today have originated. 

Miracles of raising the dead and speaking with tongues 
have ceased, and so really miracles, in general, as such, the 
gospel and God's people not needing them as credentials, as 
at first. But recovery of the sick in answer to prayer, while 
using all possible or available means, is right and to be 
expected. We use means and ask God's blessing upon them 
in other temporal affairs, and just so we should in case of 
sickness. Our realized extremity, often becomes God's gra- 
cious opportunity. Note in the study on this how means 
were used even in the working of miracles. 

Infidelity is but following the trend of fallen human 
nature received from our first parents, in believing as they 
did the devil's lie instead of God's truth. This natural bias, 
however, will not justify us; we can all believe the truth 
if we want to and are willing, God will enable us to. One 
moment's thought of the difference in society where the 
Christian religion prevails and where it is not known should 
be enough to convince anyone. No one but a most depraved 
character, or a humble missionary, certainly no infidel, would 
want to live where Christianity is unknown. Infidelity is a 
strange freak, and if it could only see itself would be heart- 
ily ashamed. It is like a man trying to blacken the sun, 
shut up the clouds, stop the rivers, kick his own father or 
mother, or knocking the crutches from beneath the cripple 
to let him fall in the mud. Sin blinds, and infidelity Is an 
awful self-intoxication. 

There are two great unseen spiritual powers in the 
world, one good, the other evil; God and his angels working 
for the good of mankind, Satan and his angels working man's 
ruin in every way they possibly can. These good and evil 
powers influence and affect man more or less as he yields 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



263 



himself to their influences. One of the devil's strong delu- 
sions is to persuade men that they can communicate with 
their friends in the other world. There is not a single text 
of Scripture in support of this. When Dives wanted Abraham 
to send Lazarus to warn his five brethren, it was not per- 
mitted. All strange "spirit" manifestations that are not a 
fraud, are but the work of Satan and his evil spirits, to 
deceive those who are only too willing to be so deceived. 
Samuel did not really appear to the king. The witch de- 
ceived Saul and the devil fooled her. God would not so 
permit and honor the thing he had expressly forbidden. Lis- 
ten to the Word on all of these. 

I. Faith Cure. 
And he stretched himself upon the child 
three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O 
Lord, my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul 
come into him again. — 1 Kings 17:21. 

And he went up, and lay upon the child, and 
put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon 
his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he 
stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh 
of the child waxed warm. — 2 Kl. 4:34. 

And Isaiah said. Take a lump of figs. And 
they took and laid it on the boil, and he recov- 
ered.— 2 Ki. 20:7. 

When he had thus spoken, he spat on the 
ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he 
anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 
and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, 
(which is by interpretation. Sent.) He went his 
way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. — 
Jno. 9:6,7. 

And they cast out many devils, and anointed 
with oil many that were sick, and healed them. 
— Mk. 6:13. 

For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but 
God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but 
on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sor- 
row. — Phil. 2:27. 

Erastus abode at Ccrinth: but Trophimus have 



Elijah. 



Elisha. 



Hezekiah. 



Jesus 

and 

means. 



Disciples. 



Why did 
not Paul 
cure 
these? 



2t)4 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

I left at Miletum sick.— 2 Tim. 4:20. 
II. Infidelity. 
Old All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

Testament and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for 
inspired. correction, for instruction in righteousness. — 2 

Tim. 3:16. 
New Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, 

Testament he will guide you into all truth; for he will not 
inspired. speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, 

that shall he speak: and he will show you things 

to come. — J no. 16:13. 
Paul But this I confess unto thee, that after the 

believed it. way which they call heresy, so worship I the God 

of my fathers, believing all things which are 

written in the law and in the prophets. — Acts 

24:14. 
Our way. There is a way that seemeth right unto a 

man; but the end thereof are the ways of death. 

— Prov. 16:25. 
The test. If any man will do his will, he shall know of 

the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether 

I speak of myself, — J no. 7:17. 

III. Spiritualism. 
The Regard not them that have familiar spirits, 

command, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them. 

— Lev. 19:31. 
Punish- A man also or woman that hath a familiar 

ment. spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put 

to death: they shall stone them with stones; 

their blood shall be upon them. — Lev. 20:27. 
SauTs Then said Saul unto his servants. Seek me 

sin and a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may 
death. go to her, and inquire of her. — 1 Sam. 28:7. 

So Saul died for his transgression which he 

committed against the Lord, even against the 

word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also 

for asking counsel of one that had a familiar 

spirit, to inquire of it. — 1 Chron. 10:13. 
End of And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom 

spiritual- the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 265 

ism. moutli, and shall destroy with the brightness of 

his coming: even him whose coming is after the 
working of Satan with all power and signs and 
lying wonders. — 2 Thess. 2:8,9. 

68. REVIVING. 

It is hoped that the following studies up to one hundred 
may not only be found of much interest to the general reader, 
but of special value to preachers and Christian workers as 
a kind of evangelistic ammunition for revival meetings. 
They have been much used in day meetings as well as night 
services. 

Not only do individual Christians sometimes get back- 
slidden in heart and need reviving, but whole churches, every 
church and every member, few if any exceptions, need it fre- 
quently. It has been the strange history of God's people in 
every age. Over and over again with distressing frequency 
and monotony does this appear in Old Testament times. Nor 
can we say it is much better today. Though with all our 
greater light and knowledge there is much less justification 
for backsliding, there is yet great need for reviving and re- 
vivals. Some one has pointed out these signs that a re- 
vival is needed: 

"When a church is anti-missionary or omissionary in 
spirit; when the pastor's salary is not paid up; when differ- 
ences exist between members of the church; when a low 
state of religious feeling prevails in the community; when 
there are no conversions in the regular services of the 
church; when prayer meetings have run down; when the 
spirit of worldliness is everywhere manifest; when the house 
of God is below par with the place of amusement; when the 
family altar and the religious welfare of the home are per- 
sistently neglected; when the Bible is relegated to a dusty 
corner for the daily newspaper or novel; when the men of 
the church are completely absorbed in money making, and 
the women of the church are given over to clubs and lodges. 
These are a few of the signs that a revival is needed." Ac- 
cording to these symptoms how many churches are in such 
good health as not to need reviving. 



266 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

The ''revival chapter," containing the fullest teaching 
of the Word on the subject, is Hosea 14. Seven special 
points appear in its nine verses: 

1. The cause of their and our captivity, sin, vs. 1. This 
must be seen and felt. 

2. Words, verse 2, sincere, penitent words of confession 
and prayer; such accepted. 

3. Faith, verse 3, three evils renounced; right trust in 
God expressed. 

4. Backslider's hope, verse 4, God is said to be "married 
to the backslider;" will anything separate? 

5. Gracious promises, 5-7. "Heal," "dew" of God's grace, 
"grow" as "lily" and "Lebanon" for beauty and strength; 
fruit, "olive tree," "revive," and grow as "corn" and "wine." 

6. Ephraim restored, 8, the very worst healed. How 
much we may expect in a revival. 

7. Wisdom and prudence, 9, the just walk, but trans- 
gressors fall. 

With other related texts, surely a great lesson. 

Need of 1. O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for 

revival. thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2. Take with 

Confession, you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, 

prayer, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: 

faitli, so will we render the calves of our lips. 3. As- 

shur shall not save us; we will not ride upon 

horses: neither will we say any more to the work 

of our hands. Ye are our gods: for in thee the 

Hope. fatherless findeth mercy. 4. I will heal their 

backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine 

"Precious anger is turned away from him. 5. I will be as 

promises." the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, 

and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6. His 

branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as 

the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7. They 

that dwell under his shadow shall return; they 

shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: 

the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 

The worst 8. Ephraim shall say. What have I to do any more 

reclaimed, with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: 

I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 267 

Wise found. 9. Who is wise, and he shall understand 

and these things? prudent, and he shall know them? 

prudent. for the ways of the Lord are right, and the jusi 

shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall 

fall therein. — Hosea 14. 
Prayer for Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and 

personal uphold me by thy tree spirit. Then will I teach 
and transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be con- 

general verted unto thee. — Ps. 51:12,13. 
reviving. Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people 

may rejoice in thee? — Ps. 86:6. 

69. ''EBENEZER." 

A strong revival lesson is found in 1 Samuel, chapter 
seven. The children of Israel had gone again into idolatry 
and their enemies, the Philistines, were threatening them. 
In their prosperity they had turned away from God, but now 
"all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord." Is it 
not much the same with us? But they were fortunate in 
having a strong and true leader. 

"And bamuel spake unio all the house of Israel, saying. 
It ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put 
away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and 
prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and 
he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." Give 
evidence that you are sorry for past wrongs and be in earnest 
about turning to the Lord. "Then the children of Israel 
did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the Lord 
only." Five interesting steps follow: 

1. Israel was called together for prayer, not to fight, 
verses 5-8, but this brought their enemies on them. So evil 
sometimes seems to come out of good; we start for God, 
and the devil starts for us, but good comes in the end. 

2. Samuel's prayer, 9, a type of Christ's intercession 
for us. Samuel's intercession temporary, Christ's perpetual. 
They depended on Samuel; we on Christ. They were safe; 
so are we. 

3. Sacrifice, 9. Not prayer alone, but sacrifice; the two 
needed and go together; either vain alone; so of Christ, so 
of us. 



268 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



4. Victory, 10, 11. God heard and gave victory, almost 
without weapons or fighting, and in the very place where 
first defeated, (see chapter 4:1). Dependence on form (ark), 
defeat; on God, victory; so today. 

5. The memorial, 12. Such a victory worthy of being 
remembered. God had always helped, when they were right, 
and does still. The past is prophetic of the future. Let 
"Bbenezer," the stone of help, mark my conversion, mark 
this meeting, in the conversion of many. "Here I'll raise my 
Ebenezer." A good time to renew our vows. 

"High heaven that heard that solemn vow, 
That vow renewed, shall daily hear; 
Till in life's latest hour I bow. 
And bless in death a bond so dear." 

7. And when the Philistines heard that the 
children of Israel were gathered together to Miz- 
peh, the lords of the Philistines went up against 
Israel. And when the children of Israel heard 
it they were afraid of the Philistines. 8. And the 
children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to 
cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will 
save us out of the hand of the Philistines. 9. 
And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered It 
for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and 
Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the 
Lord heard him. 10. And as Samuel was offer- 
ing up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew 
near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thun- 
dered with a great thunder on that day upon the 
Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were 
smitten before Israel. 11. And the men of Israel 
went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, 
and smote them, until they came under Beth-Car. 
12. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between 
Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben- 
ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. 
—1 Sam. 7:7-12. 

God with, And he said, Certainly I will be with thee. 

leading —Ex. 4:12. 

and And the Lord said unto .Jacob, Return unto the 



Israel 
and their 
enemies. 



Samuel's 
prayer. 

Sacrifice. 



Victory. 



IVIemorlal 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 269 

helping land of thy fathers, . . and I will be with thee. 
his —Gen. 31:3. 

people. As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: 

I will not fall thee, nor forsake thee. — Josii. 1:5 
So the Lord alone did lead him ,and there was 
no strange God with him. — Deut. 32:12. 

Thou has thrust sore at me that I might fall; 
but the Lord helped me. — Ps. 118:13. 

70. THE LORD'S PRAYER. 

By this is meant not what is commonly called the "Lord's 
prayer" in the sixth chapter of Matthew, but our Lord's own 
great high priestly prayer found in the seventeenth chapter 
of John's gospel, the closing words of his wonderful dis- 
course with his disciples on the memorable night when he 
was betrayed, his last full recorded message to them. How 
fitting to close such a discourse with such a prayer, and how 
worthy such a prayer is of our careful, serious, prayerful, 
even tearful consideration, especially as related to evangel- 
istic or revival work. 

Revivals, real revivals, are not so much worked up, as 
prayed down. Jesus taught a great deal about prayer, for 
he knew the real ne6d of the people. One of the strongest 
symptoms that the church is sick today and needs a re- 
vival> is the general lack of prayer. A revival has begun in 
any soul when it can be induced to pray oftener and more 
earnestly, and so more prayer and praying in the church 
brings some revival at once, and is one of the first things to 
be sought for in revival work. Several studies on prayer 
will follow. No one ever prayed more than Jesus, and a little 
study of this great prayer is a good place to begin. No at- 
tempt is made at an exhaustive study of the prayer. Only a 
few verses are quoted; the whole prayer should be studied. 
Four points in the prayer are worthy of some, special atten- 
tion. 

1. "Glorify thy Son," verse one. Here is apparently a 
departure from his universal conduct. We have never seen 
him putting himself foremost, helping himself before others. 
He "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." But 



270 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

here his very first petition seemingly is for himself. If we 
look carefully, however, we will see that the request was not 
a selfish one, but as a means to an end; was really for others. 
"Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee." That 
his mind and heart were not centered on himself, but on 
others, the two next verses clearly show. "As thou hast 
given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal 
life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life 
eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and 
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Life can only come out of 
death. He was praying in part that God would glorify him 
in his death on the cross for the life of the world. We may 
pray for God to glorify us in this way. We need to, and we 
must, before there can be much revival or many souls saved. 
Let us sing, "In the cross of Christ I glory," but let us pray 
in a sense also that God will glorify us in going to our cross 
in this meeting, that other souls may find life in Jesus; then 
we may share a little in verse four. 

2. Prayer for his immediate disciples, and all to follow, 
verses 9, 11, 12, 15, 20, three-fold blessed keeping: kept from 
evil; kept in unity, as one; and have his joy fulfilled in them 
and in us. "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but 
for them which thou hast given me. * * * And now I am no 
more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come 
to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those 
whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy 
name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of 
them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture 
might be fulfilled. And now I come to thee; and these things 
I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled 
in themselves. * * * I pray not that thou shouldest take 
them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them 
from the evil. * * * Neither pray I for these alone, but for 
them also which shall believe on me through their word." 
Souls here may come into this prayer. 

3. Prayer for the special unity of all his believers. 
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and 
I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world 
may believe that thou hast sent me," verse 21. The love 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 271 

and unity of God's people is one of the greatest helps in a 
revival and to the salvation of souls. (See also verses 22, 23). 
Strife and contention has killed churches, stopped revivals, 
hindered souls from being saved. Love is a centripetal 
force. Sin is a centrifugal force, God" gathers; Satan sep- 
arates. Devil and division are very nearly synonyms. 
Unity and love between members here and now, will win and 
unite souls to Christ; division will drive them away. 

4. Prayer for final glorification of all his believers, 
verse 24. "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast 
given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my 
glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before 
the foundation of the world." He wants us to see his glory, 
but also to share in it, for he has promised that if we 
overcome, we may sit with him in his throne. Rev. 3:21. 
This prayer will be effectual through Christ's continued in- 
tercession. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the 
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth 
to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25. Let us all get 
into this prayer; we may. 

71. GETHSEMANE. 

Let us follow Jesus a little farther, a little nearer the 
cross, and a little deeper into the very heart of God. We 
sing very sweetly sometimes, "I'll go with him to the gar- 
den." But do we really know or think what the song means? 
Let us in this study get a glimpse of the experience of Jesus 
in the garden, an experience that we all need to have a 
share in, if we would be useful in revival and soulwinning 
work. But as we see this, let us not shrink, or draw back, 
or sing the song with less fervor than formerly. Note the 
location of the text: the supper, Matt. 26:26; the garden, 
Matt. 26:36-46. 

1. Preceding Events. The last passover observed, tlie 
supper instituted, and the marvelous discourse recorded in 
chapters 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of John's gospel. 

2. Time and Place. Thursday night, a little after mid- 
night probably; in an olive orchard, called "garden of Geth- 
semane," across the brook Kedron, a place where Jesus often 



272 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

went to pray, and where Judas would know where to find 
him. Where could any one find us, if he wanted to? Prayer 
meeting? Sunday School? theater? ball-play? It was a full 
moon, but it may have been cloudy, or the dense shade may 
have made the torches and lanterns necessary. 

3. The favored three. Leaving the other disciples near 
the entrance Jesus took three, Peter, James, and John, a 
little farther with him into the garden, to be a little nearer 
to him in his agony. Jesus in this hour longed for even a 
little human sympathy and fellowship. Some can under- 
stand spiritual things more than others. But even these 
three were not much help; are we? They slept; do we? 
What an opportunity they lost! How many we sleep away! 
Time to awake now! 

4. The three prayers. In his three prayers he had a 
triple victory, as in his temptation. "Alone in the fight, the 
vict'ry he won" — alone, so far as human companionship v/as 
concerned; no sympathy from even "the favored three." 
Why these prayers? that the burden of soul, the agony, might 
not be too much for his body — he died on the cross of a 
broken heart — he prayed that the cup might not cause his 
death before he came to the cross. The prayer was an- 
swered, and an angel strengthened him. 

5. The Agony. This was the heart of this awful ex- 
perience, the very holy of holies of it. Can we enter and 
understand it? What was it that made "his sweat as it 
were great drops of blood falling down to the ground?" Why 
was it? What does it mean? It could not have been the fear 
of the physical pain of Calvary. Many have suffered as much 
or more than that. Two elements must have entered into 
this agony: 

a. The spiritual death of the cross; in anticipation 
bearing the sin of the world and its punishment. If one 
sinner will writhe in torment under conviction of his sins: 
what agony must it have been for Jesus to bear the sins of 
millions. 

b. Soul travail, or desire for salvation of souls. If our 
desire to see some soul saved will cause us pain and drive 
sleep from our eyes, what must the agony of Jesus have 
been. Our burden of desire is weak; his was infinite. With 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



273 



this double agony is it any wonder that he should pray to 
have it lightened, lest it should bring him to death before 
his time? This soul travail was not essential to Christ's 
redemptive work; it was no necessary part of the atone- 
ment. But he would set us the example; be the Shepherd 
even in this; lead where he wants us to follow. We need 
to agonize for souls. "When Zion travails, she shall bring 
forth." Paul and every earnest soul has had this longing, 
Let us see and feel for lost souls now, as Jesus did and does; 
realize their need until we shall feel that we must die if 
we don't do something to help them. Souls will be saved 
then. 

Christ's Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place 

called Gethsemane, and said unto the disciples, 
Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he 
took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebe- 
dee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 
Then saith he unto them. My soul is exceeding 
sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and 
watch with me. And he went a little farther, and 
fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, 
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: never- 
theless not as I will, but as thou wilt. — Math. 
26:36-39. 

And being in an agony he prayed more ear- 
nestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops 
of blood falling down to the ground. — Lu. 22:44. 
Paul. Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel: 

—1 Cor. 9:16. 

For I could wish that myself w^ere accursed 
from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen ac- 
cording to the flesh. — Rom. 9:3. 
The As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth 

church. her children. — Is. 66:8. 

Not in He shall see of the travail of his soul, and 

vain. shall be satisfied. — Is. 53:11. 



prayer 
and 



agony. 



274 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



72. PRAYING. 

In the teaching of Christ concerning prayer three very 
distinct errors are shown that we may avoid them. 1. Prayer 
to be seen and heard of men, rather than of God; 2. Prayer 
In pride, rather than in humility; 3. Selfish prayer, rathei 
than unselfish and Christlike. "God bless me and my wife, 
my son John and his wife, us four and no more, Amen." It 
is not wrong to pray for ourselves; it is a blessed privilege. 
But it should be as a means to an end like Jesus; self not 
the whole sum of our desire. The cuckoo's thoughts were 
selfish and only three: "What do I want, what can I have, 
what will become of me." 

Real prayer is born of God, implanted in the soul by the 
Holy Spirit, and hence sure of an answer, for God will not 
contradict himself, by putting a desire in our hearts that he 
will not grant. Some prayers are our own and selfish, and 
so may not receive an answer. Others God may see fit to 
delay the s'^is'-^er '=^f, but the answer will come, if prompted 
by his Spirit. We may Know that our prayer is right when 
we "ask according to his will." 

There is great dearth of prayer today. It is one of the 
greatest, if not the greatest need of the Church in this age. 
People are too busy to pray, and because they don't pray, 
they have lost faith in prayer. There will be little revival, 
if any, where there is not more prayer. Prayer works both 
ways. It moves God, but it moves us also. If it don't move 
us it will hardly move God. God often uses us to answer our 
own prayers. If we ask for some one to be saved, we must 
be willing to do our part in bringing the one we pray for and 
Christ together. This is the hard part of personal work that 
wo often shrink from. Fearing this we fail to pray as often 
and earnestly for others as we should. 

"Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say ungranted; 
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done." 

A woman prayed for her husband for twenty-five years 
and he was not saved. But God laid it upon her heart to 
take up the duty of family worship, the greatest and hardest 
cross of her life. The husband was willing, and it led to his 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 276 

-conversion, as he afterwards publicly confessed. We may 
shrink from personal work, but we ought not to, for so only 
may we expect to have "stars in our crown." Was not that 
wife paid a thousand fold for her hard duty? 

Some of the fullest teaching on prayer to be found in the 
whole Bible is contained in the eighteenth chapter of Luke. 
Note seven points: 

1. Continual, vs. 1. Stated and particular seasons. 
"Pray without ceasing." 

2. Earnest, vs. 3. Real need; she knew it, "mine ad 
versary." Satan (adversary) after our loved ones. 

3. Persistence, vs. 5. Importuned until she obtained. 
So must we. Jacob wrestling. 

4. Faith, vs. 8. She must have believed to so persist, 
and so must we believe. 

5. Pride fails, vs. 11. Head high. Five I's. But "God 
knows the proud afar off." 

6. Sacrifice of no avail, alone, vs. 12. Tithes and 104 fasts 
in a year and still unheard. (14) 

7. Humility, 13, 14. — Humble, penitent, confession heard 
and accepted. In the Pharisee's eye it was Pharisee, publi- 
can. In Grod's eye it was Publican, pharisee, vs. 14. 
Continual. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, 

that men ought always to pray and not to faint; 
saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared 
not God, neither regarded man: and there was a 
widow in that city; and she came unto him, say- 
Earnest, ing, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would 
not for a while: but afterward he said within 
Persistence. himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man, 
Faith. yet because this widow troubleth me, I will 

avenge her, lest by her continual coming she 
weary me. — Lu. 18:1-5. 
Double Two men went up into the temple to pray; 

failure. the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The 

Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God 
I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, 
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this 
publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes 
Humility, of all that I possess. And the publican, stand- 



276 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

ing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes 
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 
God be merciful to me a sinner. — Lu. 18:10-13. 

God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto 

the humble. — 1 Pet. 5:5. 

Selfish Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, 

prayer. that ye may consume it upon your lusts. — Jas. 4:3. 

Holy Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmi- 

Spirit ties; for we know not what we should pray for, 

teach us. as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh in- 

tercesion for us with groanings which cannot 

be uttered. — Rom. 8:26. 

73. ASKING FOR GOD. 

The thought of this subject may be a little new and 
startling at first to some. We have been accustomed to 
asking of God; asking for God may seem almost irreverent. 
And yet this we are plainly taught it is our privilege to do, 
in another great prayer chapter, the eleventh of Luke's gos- 
pel. Seeing Jesus in prayer awakened in the disciples interest 
and inquiry and one said, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John 
also taught his disciples." It is the same today. Seeing and 
hearing God's children in true prayer, will awaken others 
and lead them to prayer. Have our friends and the world 
seen and heard us in prayer? In times of revival especially 
should God's people be seen and heard in prayer. We do not 
pray to be seen and heard, but the unsaved should yet see 
and know that iwe do pray. How sad that children of Christions 
parents should grow up without ever having heard the voice 
of father or mother in prayer. 

Jesus answered his disciples' prayer and taught them 
how to pray in this wonderful lesson. The Holy Spirit 
teaches us now. After a brief form of what is called "The 
Lord's Prayer," our Savior led his disciples through two 
parables, the hungry traveler and the hungry boy, up to 
the greatest prayer it is possible for the Christian to make, 
prayer for the Holy Spirit, for God himself, and assured 
them and us that his Father was and is more willing to give 
the Spirit to them that ask him, than earthly parents are 



THE BIBLiE COMPANION 277 

to give good gifts to their children. Two or three points of 
especial interest. 

1. Our need. We are nothing and can do nothing 
without the Holy Spirit. We need him for His nine 
fruits, (Gal. 5:22,23); for comfort and assurance, his "wit- 
ness;" for power and fruitfulness in service. The disciples 
were like weak and timid hares before Pentecost; hold and 
strong as lions after that. So many are weak today, from 
lack of God, and lack the Holy Spirit because not asking; are 
on the other, rather than on this side of Pentecost. 

2. Three-fold prayer, "Ask, seek knock" — The climax of 
this asking is to ask for the Holy Spirit, and the whole force 
of the two parables is to prove that God is willing to answer 
this prayer; let us be convinced, and ask, seek, knock, im- 
portune until we do receive. 

3. How Ask. a. For ourselves first, like the hungry 
son, a real hungry boy, not an idle, teasing, overfed child, 
that will throw away what is given it. "Blessed are they 
that hunger." So may we hunger and ask that we may 
receive. 

b. For others, or for ourselves that we may have to give 
to others, like the one in the parable, whose friend, hungry 
and almost starving, had come on a long journey, and he had 
nothing to give him, so went to a neighbor's and obtained 
by much importunity what he needed for his friend. This 
friend is a type of the sinner, who comes to us on the long 
journey of life, lost, hungry, starving — many such around us, 
children, scholars, friends— and we have nothing to give 
them. O the shame of our poverty, nothing to give these 
perishing ones. Pray for the Holy Spirit, for his fruits and 
power; importune until we have enough for ourselves, and 
"as many as we need" for others. If we realize our need, 
and the world's need, God is more willing to give us his 
Spirit and the bread of life to feed the starving, than the 
neighbor was to lend his friend the three loaves asked for. 
Our And he said unto them. Which of you shall 

emptiness, have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, 
and say unto him. Friend, lend me three loaves; 
for a friend of mine in his journey (or out of his 
way) is come to me, and I have nothing to set be- 



278 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

fore him? And he from within shall answer and 
say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my 
children are with me in bed, I cannot rise and 
give thee. I say unto you. Though he will not 
rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet 

God's because of his importunity he will rise and give 

fulness. him as many as he needeth. — Lu. 11:5-8. 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye 
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto 
you. — Matt. I'J. 

Holy Spirit If ye thpn, being evil, know how to give good 

promised, gifts unto your children: how much more shall 
your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them 
that ask him?— Lu. 11:13. 

that we He answered and said unto them. Give ye 

may them to eat. — Mk. 6:37. 

feed the Then Peter said. Silver and gold have I none; 

hungry, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of 

and be Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. — 

Acts 3:6. 

strong. And they spake the word of God with bold- 

ness. — Acts. 4:31. 

74. BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

Several lessons on the subject of the Holy Spirit as re- 
lated to revival and evangelistic work may be studied with 
profit. Volumes have been written; just a few helpful 
thoughts will here be attempted. Note three points in this 
study : 

1. His Personality. Many Christians have the habit of 
saying "it," when speaking of the Holy Spirit. We should 
not. This is a mistake to be corrected. We never say "it," 
when speaking of Jesus or of God the Father, and the Holy 
Spirit is a person as much as either of the others. The Holy 
Spirit is a mighty power. So also is gravitation, electricity, 
magnetism, yet we never say "he" of any one of these, but 
always "it," because they have no life. To say "it" of the 
Holy Spirit is a sin, denying and destroying God the Spirit, 
bringing him down to the level of these blind, immaterial, 
unintelligent, lifeless forces or influences of nature. Perhaps 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 279 

we de not mean to do this, but let us be more careful. 

2. Holy Spirit Baptism. Four manifestations of fhe 
power of the Holy Spirit appear in the Scriptures: First, 
convicting sinners; sometimes on the wicked in prophecy, 
Saul, Baalim. Second: regeneration, giving a measure of 
power, as in Old Testament believers for prophecy and in 
the disciples before Pentecost. Third, fullness of the Spirit 
for witnessing, received by the disciples at Pentecost and 
at other times afterward. Fourth, power to speak with 
tongues and work miracles. The second and third of these 
are the ordinary power of the Spirit in saved people, and 
are for all believers, then and now. The last is the ex- 
traordinary power, called the "baptism of the Holy Suirit," 
coming upon the Jewish Christians on the day of Pentecost, 
Acts 2, and on the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, Acts 
10, and in a general way at no other times. This extra- 
ordinary power was no where else bestowed but by the 
laying on of the Apostles' hands, and ceased with that 
age. The only proper mention of the baptism of the Holy 
Spirit is in these two places. Hardly proper to use the ex- 
pression now, as we do not have the extraordinary power 
conferred by the baptism. 

2. Fruits of the Spirit. The effect of the second and 
third manifestations of the Spirit will be our bearing abund- 
antly the beautiful fruits of the Spirit. What more pleasing 
sight than a tree or vine heavily laden with delicious fruit. 
Such a tree or vine every Christian ought to be. It is much 
easier to look at, pick and eat fruit, than to gr'^w it, but 
it pays best to grow it. See next study how we may. 

I. Personality. 
"He." He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of 

mine, and shall show it unto you. — J no. 16:14. 
Equal in Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and 

baptism of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. — Matt. 28:19. 
and The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the 

bene- love of God, and the communion of the Holy 

diction. Ghost, be with you all. Amen. — 2 or. 13:14. 

Speaking As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted. 

and the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and 

working. Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 

—Acts 13:2. 



280 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



II. Baptism. 
Promised He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and 

with fire.— Matt. 3:11. 
by For John truly baptized with water; but ye 

John shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many 

days hence. — Acts 1:5. 
and by And, behold, I send the promise of my Father 

Jesus. upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, 

until ye be endued with power from on high. — 

Lu. 24.49. 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy 

Ghost is come upon you: — Act 1:8. 
Fulfilled And when the day of Pentecost was fully 

on day of come, they were all with one accord in one place. 
Pentecost, And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as 
and in of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the 

house where they were sitting. And they were 

all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak 

with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utter* 

ance. — Acts 2:1,2,4. 
house of While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy 

Cornelius. Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. — 

Acts 10:44. 

And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell 

on them, as on us at the beginning. — Acts 11:15. 
Waiting in These all continued with one accord in prayer 
prayer. and supplication. (See chapter 2:1). — Acts 1:14. 

III. Fruit. 
Fruit But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

worth long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 

bearing, ness, temperance: against such there is no law. — 

Gal. 5:22,23. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION * 281 



75. FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 

While we may not use the term, "baptism of the Holy 
Spirit" in these days, we may have what is always meant by 
the term when used, the fulness of the Spirit, giving power 
for service. The better, real Bible terms are, "receive the 
Holy Spirit," "filled with," and "full of." In this study we 
shall see these terms used, how we may receive this filling, 
the effect and proof of it. 

The Holy Spirit floods the world like the sunlight, and 
would fill all hearts if they were empty. The hearts of the 
unsaved are full of sin and self; no room for Christ or the 
Holy Spirit. The hearts of Christians are often so full of 
the world that the Holy Spirit has small space if any. Hearts 
are like vessels filled with muddy of cloudy water. God 
wants to fill them with the pure water of life, but he cannot 
until they are emptied of the old. Take a vessel full of 
impure water and immerse it in a fountain of pure water; 
it will take in none of the pure, for it is already full. Even 
an empty vessel immersed in the fountain will take in noth- 
ing, if we keep the lid on tight. This very thing is going no 
all the time in the hearts of sinners, and even Christians, 
But take an empty vessel, without any lid and sink it in the 
fountain, and it will fill in an instant. "Nature abhors a 
vacuum," and so does grace. God wants to fill us with his 
Spirit, love and life, and would if he could. Some dear chil- 
dren of God are trying to fill up a spoonful a week. The 
trouble is it leaks out or evaporates in the world, and after 
years they have little more life, than when they started. 

So many are weak. They cannot pray or speak or 
work. The Holy Spirit is waiting to do all these and more in 
and through believers. Emptied of self and filled with his 
Spirit, God can use his people in winning souls for him, and 
they would be able to bear the beautiful fruit of the Spirit. 
Pray that God's people may have a holy ambition for this 
spiritual industry. 
"Receive." This spake he of the Spirit, which they that 

believe on him should receive. — J no. 7:39. 
"Received." Received ye the Spirit by the works of the 



282 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



"Filled 
with." 



"Full of.' 



Surrender. 



Empty, 



Desire 
and 

prayer, 



Faith, 

Effects: 
"Boldness' 
9nd 
"power." 

"Dwell in.' 



law, or by the hearing of faith? — Gal. 3:2. 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said 
unto them. And when they had prayed, the place 
was shaken where they were assembled together; 
and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, 
and they spake the word of God with boldness. — 
Acts 4:8,31. 

And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith 
and of the Holy Ghost. — Acts 6:5. 

How Receive? Four steps. 

And he said unto them all, if any man will 
come after me, let him deny himself, and take 
up his cross daily, and follow me. — Lu. 9:23. 

Then he saith, I will return into my house 
from whence I came out; and when he is come, 
he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. — Matt. 
12:44. 

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given 
you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall 
be opened unto you. — Lu. 11:9. 

Now when all the people were baptized, it 
came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and 
praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy 
Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove 
upon him. — Lu. 3:21, 22. 

Therefore I say unto you. What things soever 
ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive 
them,and ye shall have them. — Mk. 11:24. 

They saw the boldness of Peter and John. — 
Acts 4:13. 

And they spake the word of God with bold- 
ness. — Acts 4:31. 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy 
Ghost is come upon you. — Acts 1:8. 

And with great power gave the apostles wit- 
ness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. — 
Acts 4:33. 

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,, 
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. — 
Rom. 8:9. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 283 

*'Given us." And hereby we know that he abideth in us, 
by the Spirit which he hath given us. (See 4:13.) 
—1 J no, 3:24. 

Sad lack. These be they who separate themselves, sen- 

sual, having not the Spirit. — Jude 19. 

76. LED BY THE SPIRIT. 

Much general teaching concerning the Holy Spirit is con- 
tained in this study. How may we know when we are led 
by the Spirit? John says in his first epistle, 4:1, "Try the 
spirits whether they be of God: because many false prophets 
are gone out into the world." The world is full of isms and 
fads and false teachers and the devil is temping and lead- 
ing wrong always; how shall we know the truth and the 
way? Try every teacher and teaching, every leading or im- 
pression of duty we may have, by the Word of God. The 
Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to the Word he has 
given us. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak 
not according to this word, it is because there is no light in 
them." Trying all our impressions and acts by this stand- 
ard will keep us from fanaticism. 

We should have, however, a positive and aggressive lead- 
ing of the Holy Spirit, especially in the direction of evan- 
gelism, God's great saving work in the world. Note how the 
Spirit led Philip and Paul even against their natural inclina- 
tions, and yet how willingly obedient they were, this obedi- 
ence being one of the truest marks of a child of God, as we 
shall see in the study. See Acts 8:29, 30 and 16:6, 7. This 
leading of the Spirit will be always right and for our good, 
even if sometimes against our inclinations. The Spirit may 
often lead us where we shrink from going, and fearing this 
we may sometimes fail to ask for his leading. But let us 
learn not to fear or fail, but to "trust and obey." The sin- 
ner shrinks from coming to Christ, fearing a thousand things, 
but when he yields, how blessed it is. Christians foolishly 
shrink from many duties, really fearing to trust themselves 
fully in the hands of their dear Father and loving Savior, yet 
when they "surrender all," how sweet it is. Christian brother 
or sister, try this giving up to God until you learn more how 
good it is. 



284 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

God is ready to fill us with his Spirit, waiting, anxiously 
longing to give us missions and messages for him, if we were 
only ready to carry them out. If we are first filled with his 
Spirit the leading will not seem so hard. Paul said "I can 
do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." So 
can we, even do personal work in winning souls, when 
strengthened by the Holy Spirit. God wants to lead us in 
this work especially. "The preparation of the heart and the 
answer of the tongue is from the Lord." He prepares hearts 
and would send us with the message they need, if we would 
only go, like Philip going to the Eunuch. Here was a soul 
prepared; what if Philip had refused to go to him? Some 
soul may never be saved, because some Christian has not 
been obedient to the vision and voice of the Spirit. What 
a sad loss on both sides! 

"Oh, to be nothing, nothing. 
Only to lie at his feet, 

A broken and emptied vessel. 

For the Master's use made meet. 

Emptied, that He might fill me 
As forth to His service I go; 

Broken, that so unhindered, 

His life through me might flow." 
Born of. For ye have not received the spirit of bond- 

age again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit 

of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. — 

Rom. 8:15. 
Led by. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, 

they are the sons of God. — Rom. 8:14. 
"Given us." Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he 

in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. — 

1 Jno. 4:13. 
The temple Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, 

and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?— 

1 Cor. 3:16. 
and Its Now ye have received not the spirit of the 

Holy world, but the Spirit which is of God; that ye 

Dweller. might know the things that are freely given to 

us of God.— 1 Cor. 2:12. 
Live and Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 285 

he is none of his. — Rom. 8:9. 
walk If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in 

the Spirit— Gal. 5:25. 
free. But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under 

the law. — Gal. 5:18. 
Led day In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, 

and night, and all the night with a light of fire. — Ps. 78:14. 
Not as a I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way 

mule. which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine 

eye. — Ps. 32:8. 
Abiding And I will pray the Father, and he shall give 

with. you another Comforter, that he may abide with 

Dwelling you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the 
in. world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, 

neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he 

dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. — J no. 

14:16, 17. 
Guide. He will guide you into all truth. — J no. 16:13. 

Led by the And hope maketh not ashamed; because the 
Spirit love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the 

as we obey Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Rom. 5:5. 
the If ye love me keep my commandments. — 

Word. Jno. 14:15. 

Philip Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and 

and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran 

Paul thither to him, and heard him read the prophet 

obedient. Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou 

readest? — Acts 8:29, 30. 
Blessed Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia 

result. and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of 

the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after 

they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into 

Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. — Acts 

16:6, 7. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



77. GIDEON'S 300. 

The time of this incident was about 1250 B. C. when the 
children of Israel were in their fourth servitude, or period 
of oppression under the Midianites, permitted of God as a 
punishment for their evil-doing. The people were greatly 
distressed and cried penitently to the Lord who heard their 
cry and raised them up a deliverer in the person of Gideon, 
an obscure man and from one of the poorest families of the 
tribe of Manasseh. It is not always the great ones that God 
can use best. 

To meet a great army of the Midianites, "like grasshop- 
pers for multitude," the fighting force of Israel had been 
gathered, numbering only 32,000. But God told Gideon that 
even this small number was too many, "lest Israel vaunt 
themselves against me, saying. Mine own hand hath saved 
me." The Lord said that all who were "fearful and afraid" 
might go home; 22,000 were glad to go. These may repre- 
sent mere professors or nominal Christians today. The 10,000 
left were still too many. Another test was applied, another 
thinning out. It was a very simple thing, just how they would 
all drink when they came down to the water. They had no 
idea they were being tested; they just followed their in- 
clinations. We are all being tested in the same way by 
little things all the time. "Straws show which way the wind 
blows." Many fail now as many failed then, and are set 
aside, of little or no use. 

Of the small army 9,700 got down on their hands and 
knees and took a good full drink when they came to the 
water. Can a thirsty man be blamed for taking a drink? 
No; but the way they drank showed they were thinking more 
of the drink than they were of the deliverance. These 9,700 
represent the selfindulgent, purposeless, theater-going, card- 
playing Christians of today. A great army of such would 
win few victories for God in the saving of souls. O that the 
revival might awaken these. 

Only 300 left! Didn't these drink? Yes; but not all they 
could hold. They were so eager for the battle that instead 
of getting down on their knees and taking a full drink, they 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 287 

just dipped up a little in their hands and drank as they went, 
and by this little number the fight was won. These 300 
represent the willing, obedient, consecrated, Spirit-filled sol- 
diers of Jesus today. They are "minute-men," "instant in 
season," ready for service or sacrifice. Faith may seem 
foolishness to some. Think of those pitchers and torches! 
But not to those then or these today. Who will be one like 
Gideon's 300? God has a great battle on, and he will win 
the victory by just such soldiers as these. "The sword of the 
Lord." The power is his. 

Blessed And the Lord said unto Gideon, by the three 

"300." hundred men that lapped will I save you, and 

deliver the Midianites into thine hand; and let all 
the other people go every man unto his place. — 
Judg. 7:7. 
Used wise And he divided the three hundred men into 

means. three companies, and he put a trumpet in every 

man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps with- 
in the pitchers. And he said unto them. Look on 
me, and do likewise; and, behold, when I come 
to the outside of the camp, it shall be, as I do, so 
Obedient, shall ye do. When I blow with a trumpet, I and 
"Brake" all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets 
and also on every side of all the camp, and say. The 

"blew," sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. So Gideon, 

every man and the three hundred men that were with him, 
in his came unto the outside of the camp in the be- 

place. ginning of the middle watch; and they had but 

newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, 
and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. 
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and 
broke the pitchers, and held the lamps in their 
left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands 
to blow withal; and they cried, The sword of the 
Lord, and of Gideon. And they stood every man 
in his place round about the camp: and all the 
host ran, and cried, and fled.— Judg. 7:16-21. 
Jonathan's It may be that the Lord will work for us: for 
courage. there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many 
or by few. — 1 Sam. 14:6. 



288 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Asa's And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and 

faith. said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, wheth- 

er with many, or with them that have no power: 
help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, 
and in thy name we go against this great multi- 
tude.— 2 Chron. 14:11. 

78. A FAITH LESSON. 

We are not only "saved by faith," but we live by faith. 
To win souls for God we must have a working faith, a faith 
that works by love. "Faith is the substance of things hoped 
for, the evidence of things not seen;" it makes unseen things 
real. Faith sees God and heaven, Satan and hell, the saved 
and the lost clearly. Faith will set everyone at work win- 
ning souls. If we are not so at work, it is because we have 
no faith or but very little faith. Faith and works go to- 
gether. The very essence of faith is expectation; the woman 
who touched the hem of Christ's garment expected that mom- 
ent to be healed and she was. The man who prayed for rain 
but didn't think to take his umbrella hadn't very much faith. 
Neither had the good woman who prayed for the mountain 
to be removed over night, but seeing it still there in the 
morning exclaimed, "Just as I expected"! Let us pray, work 
for, and expect to see sinners saved now. 

In this study see unbelief first; then the place of faith 
and what it does; the beautiful pole-star of faith, and seven 
wonderful examples of it. Christ twice marveled; once at 
the faith of a Gentile, (Lu. 7:9) and once at the unbelief of 
his own people, (Mk. 6:6). The two greatest examples of 
faith were Gentiles; one a man, (Lu. 7:9) and the other a 
woman, (Mat. 15:28), foreshadowing the work of the gospel. 
Unbelief 1. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. — Rom. 

is sin. 14:23. 

Unbelief 2. He that believeth on Him is not con- 

Condemns, demned: but he that believeth not is condemned 

already, because he hath not believed in the 

name of the only begotten Son of God. — J no. 3:18. 
First work. 3. Jesus answered and said unto them. This 

is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 

he hath sent. — J no. 6:29. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



289. 



Faith saves 4. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus 
and Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy 

house.— Acts 16:31. 
justifies. Therefore being justified by faith, we have 

peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 

Rom. 5:1. 
Pleases 5. But without faith it is impossible to please 

God. him: for he that cometh to God must believe that 

he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that 

diligently seek -him. — Heb. 11:6. 

6. Faith Star. 5 points. 
Live, The just shall live by faith. — Rom. 1:17. 

stand, For by faith ye stand. — 2 Cor. 1:24. 

walk, For we walk by faith, not by sight— 2 Cor. 5:7. 

fight, Fight the good fight of faith.— 1 Tim. 6:12. 

overcome For whosoever is born of God, overcometh 

by faith. the world: and this is the victory that over- 
cometh the world, even our faith. — 1 J no. 5:4. 
7. Seven Examples. 
Centurion. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled 

at him, and turned him about, and said unto the 
people that followed him, I say unto you, I have 

not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. — 

Lu. 7:9. 
Woman of Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O 
Canaan. woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even 

as thou wilt. — Matt. 15:28. 
Peter. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was 

afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, 

Lord, save me. — Matt. 14:30. 
Expectant But Jesus turned him about, and when he 

woman. saw her, he said. Daughter, be of good comfort; 

thy faith hath made thee whole. — Matt. 9: 22. 
Blind men. Then touched he their eyes, saying, Accord- 
ing to your faith be it unto you. — Matt. 9:29. 
A Leper. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way; thy 

faith hath made thee whole. — Lu. 17:19. 
A woman. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath 

saved thee; go in peace. — Lu. 7:50. 
Praying Therefore I say unto you. What things soever 

18 



290 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

in faith. ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive 
them, and ye shall have them. — Mk. 11:24. 

79. LOVE CHAPTER, 1 Cor. 13. 

1. It is interesting if not wonderful to note the ar- 
rangement or place of this chapter. In chapter twelve the 
church is represented as a natural body. In chapter four- 
teen we see the body at work. Chapter thirteen is thrown 
in here somewhat parenthetically, but not by any accident. 
In this chapter we see the very heart or soul of the body, 
which enables the body to do its work. No work for God 
will amount to much or anything that is not prompted by 
love. This explains why some very great people fail, and 
some quite simple people succeed wonderfully; it is love that 
wins. And all may have love; God will give his love to even 
the poorest of earth. 

"Oh, 'twas love, love, love that moved the mighty God, 

Love, love, 'twas love found me." 
"Oh, how can I reach the wanderer?" 

My spirit was heard to say, 
When Jesus made answer, "love him — 

'Tis love that finds the way." 
I cried to the Lord repentant, 

Then give me thy love, I pray; 
He answered the prayer for blessing, 

And love illumed my way. 

My brother would you be useful. 
In saving the lost each day? 
Then be like the blessed Master, 
In love that finds the way." 
Love found and love will find the way; and love is the 
Spirit's first fruit. 

2. Note the seven vain things without love in verses 
1-3. Love is better than knowledge. Bishop Berkeley's little 
boy when told that the cherubim excelled in knowledge and 
the seraphim in love, replied in his childish way that when 
he died he wanted to be a seraph, for he would rather love 
God than know all things, and he was right in that. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



291 



3. Note the fifteen things that love does in verses 4-7. 
Xiove "seeketh not her own." 

"Shall I be straw, and another be wheat? 

Shall I be shell, and another be meat? 

Another be the head, and I be the feet? 
If God will." 
Jjove will lead us to sacrifice for others; think of the 
-cross. A king's son was condemned to lose both his eyes. 
When one of his son's eyes had been put out the king took 
liis place, and had one of his own put out, thus saving his 
son and satisfying the law by sharing the punishment. Think 
of the suffering of Christ. What are we willing to suffer 
for him and for others? « 

4. Note the eternity of love, verses 8-13. 

Seven vain 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men 



things 
without 



love. 



Fifteen 
things 
love 
does. 



Eternity 
of love. 



and of angels, and have not love, I am become as 
sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 2. And 
though I have the gift of prophecy, and under- 
stand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and 
though I have all faith, so that I could remove 
mountains, and have not love, I am noth- 
ing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed 
the poor, and though I give my body to be burned 
and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. 

4. Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth 
not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

5. doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not 
her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

6. rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the 
truth; 7. beareth all things, believeth all things, 
hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8. Love 
never falleth: but whether there be prophecies, 
they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they 
cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall 
vanish away. 9. For we know in part, and we 
prophesy in part. 10. But when that which is 
perfect is come, then that which is in part 
shall be done away. 11. When I was a child, I 
spake as a child, I understood as a child, I 
thought as a child; but when I became a man, 



292 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

I put away childish things. 12. For now we see 
through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; 
now I know in part; but then shall I know even 
as also I am known. 13. And now abideth faith,, 
hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these 
is love. — 1 Cor. 13. 
The new A new commandment I give unto you, That 

command, ye love one another; as I have loved you, that 
ye also love one another. — J no. 13:34. 

80. LOVE LESSON. 

Here we may see divine love, the love of Christ con- 
trasted with human love. Of divine love man is naturally 
destitute. We love our friends, but not our foes. God loved 
his enemies, and will give us his love so we may love our 
enemies. This love is heaven; we must have it here, or 
never will hereafter. Learn in this lesson how this love is 
obtained; by faith, and becomes the first fruit of the Spirit 
received in regeneration. Note its effects; constraining to ser- 
vice, real labor of love, the only right and abiding kind. Make 
a "love-star" with "heaven" in the center of it, and these five 
Bible points: 1. Faith; 2. Holy Spirit; 3. Love; 4. Obedi- 
ence; 5. Christ's abiding presence. This star will make 
heaven here and guide to the heaven above. Mr. Spurgeon 
once gave this beautiful illustration. 

The Master came one night to the door, and knocked 
with the iron hand of the law; the door shook and trembled 
on its hinges; but the man piled every piece of furniture 
which he could find against the door, for he said, "I will not 
admit him." The Master turned away, but by-and-by he re- 
turned, and with his own soft hand, using most that part 
where the nail had penetrated, he knocked again — oh, so 
softly and tenderly. This time the door did not shake, but, 
strange to say, it opened, and there, upon his knees, the once 
unwilling host was found rejoicing to receive his guest. 
"Come in, come in; thou hast so knocked that my heart is 
moved to thee, I could not think of thy pierced hand leaving 
its blood mark on my door, and of thy going away homeless, 
thy head filled with the dew. I yield — thy love has won my 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



293 



lieart." What Moses with the tablets of stone could never do 
Christ does with his pierced hand. 

Another picture love lesson may be made from John's 
love chapter, first epistle, 4:7-21. Here is a very singular ar- 
rangement; love mentioned thirty times in the chapter, 29 
times in twelve verses; an arch, six verses of love on each 
:side, with three verses. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for the 
sure keystone. These three verses say nothing about love; 
just give its source. 




/o 



flw7 






/§• 



/^ 



S.0 



^/ 



Ood's For God so loved the world, that he gave his 

love. only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in 

him should not perish, but have everlasting life. — 

Jno. 3:16. 



294 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Human 
love. 
Christ's 
greater. 



Faith. 
Holy Spirit. 



Love. 



Obedience. 

Christ's 
abiding 
presence. 



Three great 
love 
verses: 
This Is 
Heaven. 



Willing 
service, 

"labor of 
love." 



Greater love hath no man than this, that a 
man lay down his life for his friends. — Jno. 15:13. 

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: 
yet peradventure for a good man some would 
even dare to die. But God commendeth his love 
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, 
Christ died for us. — Ronn. 5:7,8. 

Love Star, Heaven. 

1. 2. But this spake he of the Spirit, which 
they that believe on him should receive. — Jno. 
7:39. 

3. And hope maketh not ashamed; because 
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by 
the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Rom. 5:5. 

4. If ye love me, keep my commandments. — 
Jno. 14:15. 

5. As the Father hath loved me, so have I 
loved you; continue ye in my love. If ye keep 
my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; 
even as I have kept my Father's commandments, 
and abide in his love. — Jno. 15:9,10. 

He that hath my commandments and keepeth 
them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth 
me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love 
him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus 
answered and said unto him, If a man love me^ 
he will keep my words: and my Father will love 
him, and we will come unto him, and make our 
abode with him. — Jno. 14:21,23. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love.— Gal. 5:22. 

For the love of Christ constraineth us. — 2 Cor. 
5:14. 

We give thanks to God always for you all, mak- 
ing mention of you in our prayers; remembering 
without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of 
love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus 
Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. — 
1 Thess, 1:2,3. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 295 



81. VINE AND BRANCHES. 

The first eleven verses of the fifteenth chapter of John's 
gospel contain some of the most wonderful teaching in the 
Word. The universal desire of the world is for happiness, 
but sin-blinded and Satan-deceived, we do not know where 
to find it. The soul longs for happiness and rest, but like the 
dove out of the ark never finds it, and spends a lifetime vain- 
ly and blindly groping after many things in many ways, 
knowledge, wealth, amusement, fame or fortune, to satisfy 
an infinite craving, yet never succeeds. This mistake of the 
world is in trying to satisfy the spiritual, (soul), with the 
material, (this world) ; it can never be done. The soul was 
made by God and for God and to be happy with God. God 
only can fill and satisfy the longing of the soul. The soul 
will never find rest until it ceases its wandering in sin, and, 
like the prodigal returning to his father, comes back to God. 
He who made the soul knows just what it needs, and what 
will make it happy, and tells us here in a chain of five golden 
links. Who knows, or can tell us, better than our Maker? 
Shall we not believe him? He tells us in these verses how 
to be as happy as.it is possible to be on earth, if any link is 
lost or broken, failure will follow. Note them: 

1. Jesus, verses 1, 2. He is the vine; we are the 
branches. There must be a vital, living connection between 
us and Christ, his very life flowing through us, as the sap 
into the branch. This is effected by repentance, faith and 
regeneration. Profession or church membership alone is only 
tying the branch on to the vine, only to be cut or torn away 
and burned. 

2. Holiness, vs. 3. "Clean" through believing and obey- 
ing the Word, giving us the imputed perfect righteousness 
of Christ for justification, and also an imparted righteous- 
ness, or new nature, which following in obeying the Word, 
will make us like Christ. 

3. Usefulness, vs. 4-8. Bearing "much fruit" for God; 
beautiful fruit; not scanty, shriveled, tasteless. No droughts, 
but of our own making through unbelief, in God's spiritual 
realm. We can bear the fruit if we will; God will enable 
us to. 



296 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



4. Happiness, vs. 11. "These things," about Jesus and 
holiness and fruitbearing, will make us happy, will give us 
the joy of Jesus in full. Only the useful man in the king- 
dom and work of Jesus can be happy; this the sure way. 

5. Heaven, vs. 9, 10. Abiding, living in the love of God 
is heaven here or yonder. 

We must have the first link, Jesus, or we cannot have 
the last or any of the others. But Jesus will give himself 
to us, if we will give ourselves to him. Gracious, wonderful 
exchange! My weak and sinful self for the divine, infinite 
and sinless Son. Who would not exchange a $10 hovel for 
a $1,000,000 mansion? 

In Jesus. I am the true vine, and my Father is the hus- 

bandman. Every branch in me that beareth not 
fruit he taketh away: and every branch that 
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring 
forth more fruit. — J no. 15:1,2. 
Jesus in us. Christ in you, the hope of glory. — Col. 1:27. 
Holiness. Now ye are clean through the word which I 

have spoken unto you. — J no. 15:3. 

Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word 
is truth. — Jno. 17:17. 

Seeing he have have purified your souls in 
obeying the truth through the Spirit. — 1 Pet. 1:22. 
Fruit- Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch can- 

bearing, not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; 
no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the 
vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, 
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: 
for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide 
not in me, he is cast forth a« a branch, and is 
withered; and men gather them, and cast them 
into the fire, and they are burned. — Jno. 15:4-6. 
Heaven. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear 

Happiness, much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the 
Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: con- 
tinue ye in my love. If ye keep my command- 
ments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have 
kept my Father's commandments and abide in 
his love. These things have I spoken unto you, 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 297 

that my joy might remain in you, and that your 
joy might be full. — J no. 15:8-11. 

82. THE BEATITUDES. 

In the preceding study we learned how to be happy; thi8 
one tells us who are happy. These "beatitudes" might be 
called the "hapitudes." Happiness is a qualified term. Only 
children, birds and other unaccountable things can be per- 
fectly happy. God and man cannot be until all sin is ban- 
ished, or all souls beyond all hope forever. But in these 
opening verses of our Savior's sermon on the mount he tells 
us who are as happy as it is possible to be on earth. In the 
first seven beatitudes we have the seven-fold perfect char- 
acter of the citizens of Christ's new kingdom. And in the 
two following, what those possessing this character may ex- 
pect from the world. 

We need to study more than the outside of these be- 
atitudes. There is an outer and an inner meaning to each, 
a triple spiritual significance. Seven is a Bible number and 
three is the divine number, and the three runs all through 
the seven, making a wonderful lesson and sermon of them- 
selves. 

1. Spiritual poverty, vs. 3. (1) Need of new life, (2) 
Grace to help, (3) Humble dependence. 

2. Mourning, vs. 4. (1) For my sins when converted, 
(2) For Zion, (3) For sinners. Only those who mourn can be 
"comforted." Better mourn for a little time than for all 
eternity. 

3. Meekness, vs. 5. Like Jesus (1) In the presence of 
wealth, (2) Of intellect, (3) Of danger. 

4. Righteousness, vs. 6. (1) Sick of self-righteousness, 

(2) Hunger for imputed righteousness of Jesus, (3) His im- 
parted righteousness, giving likeness to him in our life. 

5. Merciful, vs. 7. (1) To my own soul, (2) To my 
neighbor, (3) To Christ; all evangelistic. 

6. Purity, vs. 8. (1) In thought, (2) In word, (3) In 
deed; all from the heart. 

7. Peacemakers, vs. 9. (1) Making my own peace with 
God, (2) Getting my neighbor to make his peace with God, 

(3) The best evidence of a child of God. 



298 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



If a soul truly mourns over its sins, it will be comforted, 
for such a soul can easily be led to repentance and faith, and 
then God forgives and peace comes, and the Comforter him- 
self comes. If we truly mourn over the condition of Zion, 
we shall go to work prayerfully and tearfully, the church will 
be revived, and we "shall be comforted." Again, if we truly 
mourn over sinners we shall be comforted, for we shall see 
them converted. Remember; no mourning, no promise of 
divine comfort. 

Rich poor 1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's 

and is the kingdom of heaven. — Matt. 5:3. 

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou 
wilt not despise. — Ps. 51:17. 

2. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall 
be comforted. — Matt. 5:4. 

Beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, 
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. — ■ 
Is. 61:3. 

3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall in- 
herit the earth. 4. Blessed are they which do 
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they 
shall be filled.— Matt. 5:5,6. 

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which 
is not bread? and your labor for that which sat- 
isfieth not?— Is. 55:2. 

5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall 
obtain mercy. — Matt. 5:7. 

6. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they 
shall see God. — Matt. 5:8. 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? 
or who shall stand in his holy place? He that 
hath clean hands and a pure heart. — Ps. 24:3,4. • 

7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they 
shall be called the children of God. — Matt. 5:9. 

Blessed are they which are persecuted for 
righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of 
heaven. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and 
Fellowship persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil 
with Jesus, against you falsely, for my sake. — Matt. 5:10,11. 



poor rich. 

Comfort 

for 
mourning. 



Meekness. 

Right 

hunger. 

Unsatisfy- 
ing. 

Merciful. 



Purity. 



Peace- 
makers. 
Strange 
but true 
blessed- 
ness. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 299 

Peter But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, 

knew. happy are ye. — 1 Pet. 3:14. 

83. FEEDING 5000. MARK 6:31-44. 

Jesus and his disciples had been very busy in their min- 
istry. They were worn in body and mind, and he would take 
them into an unfrequented region northeast of the sea of 
Galilee for a little rest to their bodies, and possibly some 
meditation and prayer, the sad news of the death of John 
the Baptist having just reached them. The place seems to 
have been known to the public, and in their eagerness not 
to lose sight of Jesus, many ran around the upper end of the 
lake and were waiting for him as he came across by boat. 

Seeing the multitudes as sheep having no shepherd 
aroused the compassion of Jesus, and, as on another occa- 
sion, he seemed to forget his weariness and spent the day 
in teaching them. As the evening was drawing near the 
people were hungry and the disciples said to Jesus, "Send 
them away," the easy way of disposing of them. But Jesus 
said to the disciples, "Give ye them to eat," the impossible 
thing. We sometimes say, "God doesn't ask impossible 
things of us," but that was precisely what he did then and 
does now. "Why, Master," they must have thought if they 
did not say, "how can we feed all this multitude? We cannot; 
we have nothing to feed them with." 

But what they could not do, Jesus enabled them to do 
with his own almighty power. They simply gave him what 
they had, then he blessed it and made it enough for all the 
need. Did Jesus feed the 5000? Potentially and indirectly, 
yes; but directly and instrumentally the disciples did it, did 
just what Jesus had told them to do, and what at first they 
had not thought they could do. "He brake the loaves, and 
gave them to his disciples to set before them." 

What Jesus did then he can do again, can do now. 
There is a hungry world to feed, multitudes of starving souls 
all around us. Jesus says to us in a spiritual sense, "Give ye 
them to eat." In our spiritual poverty and unbelief we may 
think and say like the disciples, "Lord, we can't." But if we 
give him what we have, and do what he says, lay our time 



300 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



and our talent, our labor and our means freely on the altar 
for his use, he will make our little enough for their great 
need. "They did all eat and were filled," and so it will be 
now. There will be a feast here every day and night. If 
God's people will do their part, souls will be fed and satisfied. 
Do we see and have pity on the multitude, and will we feed 
them, or will we leave it all for the preacher to do? The 
disciples had more when they were through than when they 
began, and so it will ever be. "There is that giveth and yet 
increaseth." Giving increases and enriches; withholding 
shrinks and impoverishes. 

Disciples. Send them away, that they may go into the 

country round about, and into the villages, and 

buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to 

Jesus. eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye 

them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we 

go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, 

and give them to eat? — Mk. 6:36,37,42. 

"Impos- But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, 

sibie!" With men this is impossible; but with God all 

things are possible. — Matt. 19:26. 
We have He saith unto them, How many loaves have 

ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, 
Five, and two fishes. — Mk. 6:38. 
so little. There is a lad here which hath five barley 

loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they 
among so many? — J no. 6:9. 
Jesus And when he had taken the five loaves and 

made it two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, 
enough, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his dis- 

and more, ciples to set before them; and the two fishes di- 
vided he among them all. And they did all eat 
and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets 
full of the fragments, and of the fishes.— Mk. 
6:41-43. 
Ufeeorlose. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, 
and he shall have more abundance: but whoso- 
ever hath not, from him shall be taken away even 
that he hath.— Matt. 13:12. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 301 



84. WORKING. 

In the ranks of Christ's followers three classes are to be 
found, workers, shirkers, jerkers, and their value is in the 
same decreasing scale or order, a few workers, many shirkers 
and some jerkers. With such a mighty work to do, what a 
pity that all the followers of Christ should not be in the 
first class, and if we are not there, we are not with him. 
He was the great Worker, the example and model for us all. 
If it was necessary for Jesus, the divine and perfect One, to 
work, how much more necessary for sinful and imperfect 
ones like us to be up and doing "while it is day." 

Jesus, when he was a child twelve years old, said, "I 
must be about my Father's business." Again early in his 
ministry he "must heeds go through Samaria," and here in 
this lesson he says, "I must work the works of him that 
sent me." While it was his delight to do his Father's will, 
he yet felt the constraining power of this word "must." 
While it is our privilege to have so much of the life of Jesus 
that we will work like him, as easily and naturally as the 
sun shines, a rose gives out its perfume, or a fountain flows, 
yet as Jesus felt tne constraining power of the word, so 
should we. 

The vision of Jesus gave meaning and power to this 
word with him. It will be the same with us. He saw the 
fields "white to tne narvest," saw tne multitude, the world, 
and compassionately felt tnat he must do and die for them. 
When we have the same vision we will feel that we must do 
or die. Seeing the great work and the few workers, he has 
taught us^ to pray the worker's prayer, and if we pray this in 
earnest, it will make us all worKers, for prayer works back- 
ward in just that way, has the retlex effect of working us 
forward. 

In any work we undertake for Jesus we have his 
promised presence. He will not push us out' into hard ser- 
vice, danger or death and leave us alone. We will have his 
presence in the work and a sure reward in the end. As Je- 
sus was hindered in his work by the unbelief of the people, 
it is even so now. In many places he can do no mighty work, 



332 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



because of the unbelief of the people. May God help us not 
to hinder him. Let us pray and believe and work. 

The largest man in a party crossing a lake, fearing from 
a sudden storm that they would sink, cried, "Let us pray." 
"No, no, my man," shouted the bluff old boatman; "let the 
little man pray; you take an oar." Five points: 
Our 1. I must work the works of him that sent 

Example, me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no 
man can work. — J no. 9:4. 

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have fin- 
ished the work which thou gavest me to do.-r 
Jno. 17:4. 

2. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, 
that he will send forth laborers into his harvest. 
(See verses 36, 37).— Matt. 9:38. 

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh 
hitherto, and I work. — J no. 5:17. 

3. And he did not many mighty works there 
because of their unbelief. — Matt. 13:58. 

And he could there do no mighty work, save 
that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and 
healed them. And he marveled because of their 
unbelief. — Mk. 6:5,6. 

4. And they went forth, and preached every- 
where, the Lord working with them, and confirm- 
ing the word with signs following. — Mk. 16:20. 

Teaching them to observe all things whatso- 
ever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. — Matt. 
28:20. 

5. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye 
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the 
work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that 
your labor is not in vain in the Lord. — 1 Cor. 15.58. 

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those 
things which we have wrought, but that we re- 
ceive a full reward. — 2 J no. 8. 



Worker's 
prayer. 



Unbelief 
hinder. 



Jesus 
with us. 



Reward 
sure. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 303 



85. CONSECRATED SERVICE. 

In the building of the tabernacle and temple there was 
not only the free and large giving of their means by the 
people, but of their service also. Both were needed then, 
and both are needed now in the building of the spiritual 
temple and work of God. No one is too great alid no one is 
too small to find some work to do; God has place and work 
for all. 

"There's a work for me and a work for you; 
Something for each of us now to do." 

This work is positively enjoined upon everyone. We are 
all to go into the vineyard to work, not to sit idly in the shade 
and eat the fruit grown by the labor of others. God wants 
all at work, gives work to all, and fully equips them for the 
task. He has a right to send us into this labor because we 
belong to him, not hired, but bought with a great price. We 
are not bondsmen to a cruel master — we were once — but now 
we are Christ's freed men, or slaves of love. 

"The Master wants workers; the harvest is white: 
The command, 'Go ye forth,' is to all. 

Then work with a will, and let not the dark night 
On an ungathered harvest field fall." 

As an example of consecrated service let us look at one 
of the greatest miracles performed by our Savior, the for- 
giving and the healing of the paralytic, Mk. 2:1-12. We 
have already seen Jesus as a great example in working. In 
this miracle see for our example the efficient service of the 
four in bringing their friend to the great healer. Seven dis- 
tinct elements enter into this case, making it an almost per- 
fect human model for us to study and imitate. 

1. Need. The four saw one need for their friend, the 
healing of his body. The paralytic felt two needs, the for- 
giveness of his sins and bodily healing. Jesus met the first 
and greatest need first, in the miracle of his sin-pardoning, 
and then the miracle of healing his body, to prove his author- 
ity to forgive his sins. 

2. Prayer. We have no record of Jesus forgiving sin 
when there was no desire to be forgiven. There is no re- 



304 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

corded prayer by any of these five, but "prayer is the soul's 
sincere desire, unuttered or expressed." The prayer of the 
heart is often truer than the prayer of the lips. Jesus read 
the prayer of this man's heart and forgave him his sins, and 
then answered the prayer of all for his bodily healing. 

3. Opportunity. Jesus was right there, the one cha^nce 
of his life. The great Healer might soon be gone. They im- 
proved their opportunity. Jesus is here now. Most souls 
are saved in revival meetings; will we improve our oppor- 
tunity? 

4. Faith. This they all had; their works proved it. 
When they saw the crowd they might have given up and 
said, "It's no use; we will come some other time." 

5. Love. Love will do much for the one beloved. Love is 
fertile in expedients. Their love and faith and desire found 
a way of getting their friend to Jesus; will ours? 

6. Sacrifice. Consecrated service calls for sacrifice. 
They gave time and labor, and it would cost them something 
to repair that roof. Save silver and lose souls. 

7. Triple Results. The paralytic healed, his sins for- 
given, and all made happy. Note how all these apply in re- 
vival and soul-winning work today. We must see the need 
and the opportunity, have faith and love, must pray and be 
willing to make sacrifice, then the triple result will follow: 
we shall have a real revival, souls will be saved, and all will 
rejoice. Lacking any of these elements how the work must 
fail. In the arms of these four, prayer, faith, love, earnest 
effort, let us bring our loved ones to Christ; then they will 
be stars in our crown, the most glorious reward we can 
think of. If we do not, and they are ever saved, they will 
be stars in the crown of another, an infinite loss to us that 
all this world could not repay. 

A missionary meeting was held and a contribution was 
called for. The boxes returned, and the contents were 
counted over — bank-notes, silver, shillings, and pence. 
"There is a card; who put that in?" "A young man back in 
the congregation." "What is written on it?" "Myself." This 
was the young man's offering — himself. He could not give 
silver and gold to the mission cause, so he gave himself. 
May the Lord help us to consecrate our service to hina today. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



305 



Service. 
Self. 



Bought. 

Need, 
Opportun 

Prayer, 
Faith, 

Love, 

Sacrifice, 



And who then is willing to consecrate his ser- 
vice this day unto the Lord? — 1 Chron. 29:5. 

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mer- 
cies of God, that ye present your bodies a living 
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your 
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this 
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of 
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, 
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. — Rom. 
12:1,2. 

And ye are not your own? For ye are bought 
with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, 
and in your spirit, which are God's — 1 Cor. 6:19,20. 

1. And again he entered into Capernaum after 
some days; and it was noised that he was in the 
ity house. 2. And straightway many were gathered 
together, insomuch that there was no room to re- 
ceive them, no, not so much as about the door: 
and he preached the word unto them. 3. And 
they came unto him, bringing one sick of the 
palsy, which was borne of four. 4. And when 
they could not come nigh unto him for the press,. 
they uncovered the roof where he was: and when: 
they had broken it up, they let down the bed 
wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5. When Jesus 
saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy. 
Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6. But there were 
certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning 
in their hearts, 7. why doth this man thus speak 
'blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 
8. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his 
spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, 
he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in 
your hearts? 9. Whether is it easier to say to 
the sick of the palsy. Thy sins be forgiven thee; 
or to say. Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 
10. But that ye may know that the Son of man 
hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith 
to the sick of the palsy) 11. I say unto thee, 
Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way Into 



19 



306 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Result. thine house. 12. And immediately he arose, took 
up the bed, and went forth before them all; in- 
somuch that they were all amazed, and glorified 
God, saying. We never saw it on this fashion. — 
Mk, 2:1-12. 

86. SOUL WINNING. 

The soul is of priceless value, worth more than rubles 
and diamonds, worth more than all the world. God who 
made both the soul and the world knows the value of each. 
Who can know the value of any thing better than the one 
who made it? And Jesus says, "What is a man profited, if 
he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; or 
what shall -a man give in exchange for his soul?" If this 
language means anything, it means that a soul is of more 
worth than all the material universe. Sin-blinded we cannot 
see the soul or its great worth. 

We may get something of God's idea of the value of the 
soul, First, when we consider that it is the only thing made 
in the image of God. We see this likeness in the soul's pow- 
ers of thought and invention, imagination, feelings, moral 
sense, conscience, duty and freedom of choice and action. 
Second, in the price paid for its redemption, the precious 
blood of Christ, an infinite price, hence the soul must be of 
infinite worth. We often pay more for things than they are 
worth, but God would not. Third, in the conflict over it, the 
greatest ever waged in this world. All the powers of heaven 
seeking to save the soul; all the powers of hell trying to 
destroy it. The will is the very citadel of the soul. Through 
mind and heart God storms this citadel with all good and 
gracious and heavenly influences, Satan with all that is evil; 
to whom will we surrender? Fourth, from its eternity, or 
immortality, 

"The sun is but a spark of fire, 

A transient meteor in the sky: 

The soul, immortal as its Sire, 

Can never die." 

A profligate sailor dreamed that one gave him a precious 

gem, but another persuaded him to throw it into the sea. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 307 

While repenting of his folly the one who gave it to him 
came again and said he would bring it up if he desired it. 
On the sailor's request he did and then said, "Here is thaX 
gem.; but I think I will keep it for you, lest you lose it again." 
This the sailor was only too glad to have the other do, for 
he now saw in his dream that the gem was his soul, that the 
one who persuaded him to throw it overboard was Satan, 
and that the one who restored it again land was willing to 
keep it was Christ. 

Finding these gems, winning these souls, is the greatest 
work in the world, is our real business here; we are saved 
to save others. Letting these gems of priceless value slip 
through our fingers and be lost to ourselves and to God and 
his Christ forever, while gathering straws, is ithe greatest 
folly in the vforld, tremendous folly, seeking for silver and 
gold, the mere dross of earth to be rich for a moment, but 
poor in the loss of priceless souls for all eternity. And then 
the unspeakable sadness of this great folly, to live a life- 
time and not save a single soul. One on his dying bed, 
though but a Christian for a month, breathed this sad lament; 
what must be our sorrow if we have any soul consciousness 
left, when we come to the end of a long, professedly Chris- 
tian life, and know we have not been directly instrumental 
in bringing one to Christ. 

"Must I go and empty handed. 
Must I meet my Savior so? 
Not one soul with which to greet him. 
Must I empty handed go?" 

All can be soul winners if they will. God sends us to 
do this work and he will enable us to do it. He will not 
send us on a fruitless errand; he will go with us. Prayer 
and faith and love and earnest effort will win, and we would 
better make a failure of every thing else than to fail in this. 
Why study so carefully and give such earnest effort to 
all worldly things and let this carelessly go? Some one in- 
quired of Dr. Lyman Beecher, in his old age, "Doctor, you 
know many things; but what do you think the main thing?" 
The sturdy old hero of forty revivals answered, "It is not 
theology; it is not controversy; it is saving souls." 

Make a list of the ones you want to see saved and pray 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



for them every day, not forg'etting to speak th© helpful word 
as opportunity affords. Not© in this study the helpful Bible 
teachings on soul-winning, wisdom of it, possibility of it, 
nobility of it, method of it, and power for it. 



Wisdom 
of it. 



Possible. 



Noble. 



How? 
One by 
one. 

Praying 

and 

weeping. 

Power 
for It. 



The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; 
and he that winneth souls is wise. — Prov. 11:30. 

And they that be wise shall shine as the bright- 
ness of the firmament; and they that turn many 
to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. — 
Dan. 12:3. 

For the Son of man is come to seek and to 
save that which was lost. — Lu. 19:10. 

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest 
truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; pray 
ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will 
send forth laborers into his harvest. — Matt. 
9:37,38. 

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the 
sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 
— Mk. 2:5. 

These were more noble than those in Thess- 
alonica, in that they received the word with all 
readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures 
daily, whether those things were so. Therefore 
many of them believed. — Acts 17:11,42. 

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and 
saith unto him, We have found the Messias, 
which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he 
brought him to Jesus. — J no. 1:41,42. 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He 
that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious 
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 
bringing his sheaves with him. — Ps. 126:5,6. 

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto 
you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send 1 
you. And when he had said this, he breathed on 
them, and saith unto them. Receive ye the Holy 
Spirit— J no. 20:21,22. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 30a 



87. ''ANOTHER VESSEL." 

1. Elisha was the great miracle worker of the Old 
Testament. In this we see his greater resemblance to Christ, 
the answer to his prayer and the fulfillment of Elijah's 
promise, that he might have a "double portion" of the lat- 
ter's spirit. Of the five miracles of 2 Kings, 4, which might 
be called the miracle chapter of the Old Testament, one of 
the best known is recorded in the first seven verses, and 
contains some most helpful thoughts on soul-winning work. 

2. A man had died leaving his widow in debt. The 
creditor had come and was about to tiake her two sons as 
bondmen, a thing which the law as it was then allowed, the 
woman not having any other property to satisfy the debt. 
In her distress this widow came to Elisha to save her sons. 
Every unsaved soul is in the position of these two sons, only 
worse. Every sinner old or young is already sold under sin, 
mortgaged to Satan, and in a little while he will clajim and 
receive his property and hold it forever. It is a sad and awful 
thought that our loved ones, parents, children, relaitives' and 
friends unsaved, are not only in danger of being taken as 
these two sons, but have actually sold themselves by sin 
into the double bondage of sin and Satan. There is just on© 
chance for all in the redemption of Jesus Christ, but mil- 
lions blindly miss the chance, and lare lost forever. The boys 
did not realize their danger, but the mother did, and went 
to the prophet^ the only source of help she knew. Our un- 
saved friends do not see their danger; do we? We need to 
see their danger and be ast earnest in going to Jesus about 
them lais she waiS in going to Elisiha. But, alas! how many 
of the saved are as blind as the unsaved. 

3. The prophet heard the widow's cry, answered her 
prayer, supplied her need and saved her sons. Our need in 
the danger of our loved ones is greater. The bodies of those 
boys might be taken for a short period ; the souls of our dear 
Qnes may be lost for an eternity. Our negligence is wrong, 
^nful and cruel. God has promised to supply our need, if 
we will ask in love and faith, and do what we can. 

4. Elisha multiplied the widow's little oil until it was 



310 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

enough for her need. Jesus used the few loaves and fishes, 
multiplied them, and made them enough to feed the multi- 
tude. K they had all said, "It'iS no use; it won't do any 
good," what would have happened? They did what they 
were told to do, and the Lord did the rest. We mcy feel 
weak, and he tempted to say, "We can't." But let us think of 
the souls at stake, and do our best, and God may use our 
little strength, our very weakness, to save our loved ones. 
He will use us more, if we will let him. 

5. God's grace in saving and for service is like this oil, 
only limited by our capacity and our faith. If the woman had 
provided more vessels she would have received more oil. 
The oil only stayed when the last vessel was full. What a 
pity she didn't get more vessels! The prophet told her to 
"borrow not a few." A little faith is better than none, but 
how much she lost by not having a larger faith. She might 
have had enough to live upon for many days. How many 
souls will be saved in this meeting? How many are we eX-; 
pecting? How large is our faith? Can we not hear God say- 
ing, "Bring me yet a vessel?" Bring "not a few." He is 
able and wants to save many. There is great encourage- 
ment here for personal work and workers. Bring many of 
these vessels. But as the oil jars were brought one at a 
time, so may these vessels of mercy, souls to be saved, be 
brought to Jesus by faithful workers "one by one." Such 
"hand-picked" fruit is usually the ripest, sweetest and best. 
God is displeased if not angry with our little faith. 
The main 1. Now there cried a certain woman of the 

lesson. wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, say- 

ing. Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou 
knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord : and 
the creditor is come to take unto him my two 
sons to be bondmen. 2. And Elisha said unto 
her. What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast 
thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid 
hast not anything in the house, save a pot of oil. 
3. Then he said. Go, borrow thee vessels abroad 
of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow 
not a few. 4. And when thou art come in, thou 
Shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



311 



No lack. 



Use what 
we have. 

"Expect 
great 
things 
from God; 
Attempt 
great 
things 
for God." 



and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou 
Shalt set aside that which is full. 5. So she went 
from him, and shut the door upon her and upon 
her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and 
she poured out. 6. And it came to pass, when 
the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, 
Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her 
There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 
7. Then she came and told the man of God. And 
he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live 
thou and thy children of the rest. — 2 Kings 4:1-7. 
But my God shall supply all your need ac- 
cording to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.— - 
Phil. 4:19. 

There is a lad here, which hath five barley 
loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they 
among so many? — J no. 6:9. 

And he said, Take the arrows. And he took 
them. And he said unto the King of Israel, Smite 
upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and 
stayed. And the man of God was wroth with 
him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five 
or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till 
thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shall 
smite Syria but thrice. (Large, not little faith, 
pleases God.) — 2 Kings 13:18, 19. 



88. "WILL IT PAY?" 



The unconverted are often in doubt about whether it 
pays to serve God, and very often it is the lives of unfaithful 
Christians that make the world ask the question. But God's 
people themselves, even som.e of the most faithful, are some- 
times tempted to ask the question. We see this of David in the 
73d. Psalm, and of the people in the third chapter of Malachi 
The wicked seem to prosper and the righteous some- 
times suffer. Even careless, worldly, unfaithful Christians 
seem sometimes to get along better than the most godl>-. 
This is one of the greatest snares to the faithful, where they 
are often unconsciously caught to their own harm and loss. 



312 , THE BIBLE COMPANION 

"Why," the faithful sometimes think, even David so thought, 
"should I go and go and give and give, use time and talent, 
labor and money freely in God's cause, when other mem- 
bers don't?" We are human, and the free and easy time 
thiait some members are having, leads many to follow their 
exam^ple. 

But i't does pay to strive for souls and to be flaithful in 
the service of God. So sure as God's word is true, so cer- 
tainly shall not the labor of the faithful be unremembered 
or go unrewarded. A moment of earnest consideration, 
comparing the end of the righteous and the wicked, the 
saved and the lost, the heaven of the one and the hell of 
the other, the "heavenly treasure" of the faithful, and the 
"saved so as by fire" of the unfaithful, will show that it 
pays to serve God with the whole heart. 

Every sigh of God's dear and true children is heard in 
heaven, and, with every loving word and kind helpful deed, 
is recorded in God's "book of remembrance." Every tear will 
be a jewel brighter than all the gems^ of earth. God sees us 
in our "toiling and rowing." "Jesus knows all about our 
struggles." In our trials we may sometimes forget or doubt 
his care, but let us have faith to look above and beyond and 
be true to the end. The old hymn shows that unfaithful 
(or no) .service will not pay. 

"Nothing but leaves! The Spirit grieves 

O'er years of wasted life; 
O'er sins indulged while conscience slept, 
O'er vowis and promises unkept. 

That reap from years of strife — 
Nothing but leaves! Nothing but leaves! 

Ah, who shall thus the Master meet. 

And bring but withered leaves? 

Ah, who shall at the Master's feet. 

Before the awful judgmentHseat 

Lay down for golden sheaves. 

Nothing but leaves! Nothing but leaves!" 

David But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 313 

desponds, steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious 
at the foolish when I .saw the prosperity of the 
wicked. * * * Behold, these are the ungodly, who 
prosper in thie world; they increase in riches. 
The Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and 

mystery wa&hed my hands in innocency. * * * Wlien I 
solved. thought to know this, it was too painful for me: 

until I went into the sanctuary of God; then 
understood I their end.— Ps. 73:2, 3, 12, 13, 16, 17. 
What some Ye have said. It is vain to serve God: and 
think what profit is it thajt we have kept his ordinance, 

and say. and that we bave walked mournfully before the 
Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud hap- 
py; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; 
yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. — 
Mai. 3:14,15. 
Faithful So when even was come, the lord of the vine- 

work yard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and 

rewarded, give them their hire, beginning from the last 
unto the finsit. — Matt. 20:8. 

His Lord said unto him. Well done, good and 
faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a 
few things, I will make thee ruler over manv 
things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. (See 
Lu. 19:16-19; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 2 John 
8.)— Matt. 25:23. 
The end And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and 

will a book of remembrance was written before him 

tell. for them that feared the Lord, and that thought 

upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the 
Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my 
jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth 
his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye re- 
turn, and discern between the righteous and the 
wicked, between him that serveth God and him 
that serveth him not. — Mai. 3:16-18. 



314 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



89. INFIRMITIES HEALED. 



Three remarkable cases may engage our attention briefly 
yet helpfully; the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda, 
whom Jesus healed because he desired it, Jno. 5, the lame 
man at the beautiful gate of the temple, whom Peter and 
John healed. Acts 3, and the man at Lystra, impotent in his 
feet, whom Paul healed. Acts 14. All these desired healing 
and had faith to receive it. "The lame man heard Paul 
speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he 
had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, stand upright 
on thy feet. And he leaped and walked." Acts 14:9,10. 

^ In the first and last of these three cases the healing 
came on the simple command of Jesus and Paul. The thing 
each was commanded to do was an impossibility, but they 
wanted to be healed, were willing and had the faith to obey, 
and the healing followed. If they had said, "There's no use; 
I can't," they might have remained cripples until they died. 
But with the word commanding the impossible thing went the 
power from Jesus and the apostles to do the impossible thing. 
God commands all men everywhere to repent and believe. 
This of themselves alone they can no more do than the lame 
men could get up. But with the command to repent and be- 
lieve goes the power from God enabling every soul to do it, 
that truly wants to be saved. What the soul cannot do itself 
God will give it power to do. Here is the hope of the hope- 
less and helpless. As with the sinner, so with the Christian. 
God commands us in his service. We feel we can't, but let 
us not say it, for God commands nothing that he will not give 
us power to do when we move out and on at his word. What 
marvelous things God's people could do, if they only had the 
desire and the faith to do what God says, speaking to us by 
his Word and by his Spirit. 

In the second case, a very typical one, the lame man at 
the beautiful gate, note not only the giving of the word of 
command, but the extending also of the helping hand. "And 
he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up." So many 
need the help of loving word and kindly deed. A few special 
points appear in this case: 



THE BIBLB COMPANION 315 

1. Opportunity. This for the disciples and for the lame 
man and for us. Are we looking for this? The disciples 
have their eyes open now. The Holy Spirit helps us to see 
as Jesus and the disciples saw. 

2. The life-time cripple. "Now a long time in this con- 
dition." Our friends crippled by and in sin ten, twenty, fifty, 
seventy years or more; do we want to help them into health? 

3. Asl<ing and receiving. God is ready to give us better 
things and more than we ask for. He will give us not the 
dross of earth, but the imperishable gold and silver of his 
kingdom. 

4. Healed and happy. He was a good witness; see what 
he did. He might have hidden himself away so nobody could 
know it, but he was not afraid to let it be known. So we, 
more wondrously healed, should show it. 

5. Effect. The people greatly wondered and were con- 
vinced. And so it will be now, if God's people let their light 
shine. 

Note one word running through all the texts of this 
study, how Jesus and his disciples "saw" people. So may 
our eyes be opened to see the needy ones around us, the lost 
and helpless. A remarkable expression occurs in Acts 3:4, 
"fastening his eyes," and another in Acts 14:9, "steadfastly 
beholding," These words indicate not the careless glance 
we often bestow on one we are passing, but a look of intense 
soul interest. So we should be looking for souls. The prayer 
list is one way of "fastening our eyes" upon the loved ones 
we would see saved. We will think of them more. Our souls 
should see people for their spiritual welfare. Or are we most 
intensely desiring and looking for dollars, pleasures, worldly 
interests and things? 

"Saw" His And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw 

disciples, two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew 

his brother, and he saith unto them. Follow me. 

* * And going on from thence, he saw other 

two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John 

his brother; * * and he called them. — Matt. 4:18, 

19,21. 

"Saw" the And Jesus, when he came out, saw much peo- 

multitude. pie, and was moved with compassion toward 



316 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



them, because they were as sheep not having a 
shepherd: and he began to teach them many- 
things. — Mk. 6:34. 
''Saw" And after these things he went forth, and saw 

Levi. a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of 

custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.— 
Lu. 5:27. 
"Saw" And when Jesus came to the place, he looked 

Zaccheus. up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, 
make haste, and come down; for today I must 
abide at thy house. — Lu. 19:5. 
"Saw" the When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he 
impotent had been now a long time in that case, he saith 
man. unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? — Jno. 5:6. 

"Saw" the And as Jesus passed by he saw a man which 

blind man. was blind from his birth. — Jno. 9:1. 
"Saw" the And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with 

lame man. John, said. Look on us. And he gave heed unto 
them, expecting to receive something of them. 
The greater Then Peter said. Silver and gold have I none; 
gift. but such as I have give I thee: in the name of 

Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And 
The "help- he took him by the right hand and lifted him 
ing hand." up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones 
received strength. And he leaping up stood, and 
The good walked, and entered with them into the temple, 
witness. walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all 
People the people saw him walking and praising God, 

convinced and they knew that it was he which sat for alms 
by it. at the beautiful gate of the temple: and they were 

all filled with wonder and amazement at that 
which had happened unto him. — Acts 3:4-10. 

90. NEHEMIAH, 



In the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiab 
we have a great work and an almost perfect human worker, 
or workman, as a model. The book of Nehemiah giving this 
history has been called "the worker's book." It is full of 
profitable instruction for Christian workers today. Let us 
think of some things in a connected and continuous line. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION • 317 

1. Nehemiah though in a foreign land, heard of and saw, 
spiritually the need of Jerusalem, Chap. 1:3. So must we see 
the need of Zion and a lost world. 

2. Nehemiah sorrowed over it, vs. 4. So should we 
mourn. 

3. Nehemiah prayed with very true and humble confes- 
sion, vs. 5, 6. So should we. 

4. Of this vision, sorrow and prayer, a great purpose 
was born, vs. 11. Note his prayer to God and what he said 
to the King, 2:4,5. Such prayer will be granted and such 
purpose will "have its way," then or now. 

5. Rebuilding the walls. Note first the secret viewing of 
the ruined walls, ch. 2:12-16, and then the willing agreement of 
all to engage in the work, vs. 18. Some one must see and 
purpose and plan. 

6. Enemies and opposition. 2:19; 4:1-3, 7, 8, 10, 12. We 
have here two classes of enemies. First, the three, Sanballat, 
Tobiah, and Geshem, in their scorn and mocking are a type 
of the world, the flesh and the devil, opposing in many ways 
the work of God and his people. Note the three plots against 
Nehemiah, illustrating the persistence of evil. Would that 
the right might be as resourceful. First plot: the council 
proposed, and Nehemiah's great answer, 6:1-4. Second plot; 
the lying letter, 6 : 5-9. A Spirit-filled faithful worker possesses 
a subtle consciousness of right and is quick to detect false- 
hood and evil, when others may be taken in the snare. Third 
plot: the false prophet, 6:10-14. Note how Nehemiah prayed 
in every close place. Second, Another kind of enemies and 
opposition was found in the faint, half-hearted Jews, 4:10, 12, 
their weakness the result of their living too near the other 
enemies; type of worldly minded Christians in the Church 
today. 

7. The work prosecuted and finished, seven points; (1) 
pray, 4: 9; (2) watch, 4:9; (3) work, 4: 17; (4) fight, 4:20; 
(-5) willing people, 4:6; (6) united, each near at home, 3:2, 
and more than a score of others in this chapter, among them 
Shallum "and his daughters," the priests, the goldsmiths and 
merchants, all classes "earnestly" repairing; a wonderful les- 
son; read the chapter through; (7) the work done, 6:15. If 
pastor or evangelist and people will see, feel and work in the 



318 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



same way today, the spiritual walls of Zion will be built up. 

Seeing, And they said unto me, the remnant that are 

sorrowing, left of the captivity there in the province are in 

prayer, great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jeru- 

purpose. salem also is broken down, and the gates thereof 

are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when 

I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, 

and mourned certain days, and fasted and prayed 

before the god of heaven * * * o Lord, I beseech 

thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer 

of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, 

who desire to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray 

thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy 

in the sight of this man. — Neh. 1:3,4,10. 

Enemies. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah 

the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the 

Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to sccrn, and 

despised us, and said. What is this thing that 

ye do? will ye rebel against the king? — Neh. 2:19. 

And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of 

burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; 

so that we are not able. to build the wall. — Neh. 

4:10. 

Pray and Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our 

watch. God, and set a watch against them day and 

night, because of them. — Neh. 4:9. 
Work and They which builded on the wall, and they that 

fight. bare burdens, with those that laded, everyone 

with one of his hands v/rought in the work, and 
with the other hand held a weapon. — Neh. 4:17. 
Willing So built we the wall; and all the wall was 

people. joined together unto the half thereof: for the 

people had a mind to work. — Neh. 4:6. 
Men and And next unto him repaired Shallum the son 

women of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jeru- 

united; salem, he and his daughters. — Neh. 3:12. 

everyone a And between the going up of the corner unto 
part and the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the 
a place. merchants. — Neh. 3:32. 
"Done." So the wall was finished in the twenty and 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 319 

fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two' 
days. — Neh. 6:15. 
Helped. Now therefore, O God, strenthen my hands. — 

Neh. 6:9. 

91. FIRST BATTLE. Ex. 17:8-16. 

Some interesting and helpful lessons for revival work 
may be drawn from the experience of God's people in their 
first great battle with Amalek in Rephidim. This literal 
battle as a type of the spiritual conflicts of God's people In 
all ages is worth studying. 

1. The children of Israel had but recently escaped from 
their awful bondage in Egypt, passing safely through the 
Red Sea, type of the deliverance of the soul from the bondage 
of sin through the red sea of Jesus' blood. The very blood 
that saves the believing will condemn and destroy the un- 
believing. They had witnessed the defeat and overthrow 
of their old enemies, the Egyptions, drowned in the sea, only 
to meet a little later these new foes. It is ever so. The 
soul has no sooner escaped from sin than it is called to a 
new trial. We start on our way to the heavenly Canaan, and 
the devil opposses every foot of the way. 

2. God gave the victory in this first battle, and he will 
always under the same conditions. He used means then and 
he uses means now. A consecrated leader and a willing 
people were the chief means then and are today. The people 
could not have won the battle without Moses, and Moses 
could not win it without the people. Each must do their 
part then and now. Much depends upon a consecrated leader, 
pastor or evangelist. 

3. The strength of Moses was insufficient for the great 
task. His hands would get too heavy and drop in spite of 
himself. Then Aaron and Hur came to his help and "stayed 
up his hands * * * until the going down of the sun." Even 
Jesus our Great Captain needed strengthening in the garden, 
but the disciples asleep failed to hold up his hands by prayer, 
as he had asked them to do. Are we watching? Could not 
God have given Israel the victory without this episode of 
Moses, Aaron and Hur? Yes; but God was teaching by ob- 



320 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



ject lessons, and he intended this as a great lesson for his 
people until the end of time. Their battles were literal and 
weapons carnal for the destruction of their enemies. Our 
warfare and weapons are spiritual for the saving of souls. 
We need wise, consecrated. Spirit-filled leaders, but we need 
as well a consecrated people, ready like Aaron and Hur to 
hold up the leader's hands. The people may do this today by 
sympathy and prayer for, co-operation with and support of, 
the leader. Where there are such leaders and such people 
there Will be great spiritual victories, many souls won. ' 
Enemies. Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in 

Leaders Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose 
and us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to- 

peopie. morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with 

God and the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as 
victory. Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: 
and Moses, Aaron and Hur went up to the top 
of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses 
help up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when 
he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But 
Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, 
and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and 
Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on 
the one side, and the other on the other side; 
and his hands were steady until the going down 
of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and 
his people with the edge of the sword. — Ex. 17: 
8-13. 
Spiritual For the weapons of our warfare are not car- 

warfare, nal, but mighty through God to the pulling down 
of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and 
every high thing that exalteth itself against the 
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity 
every thought to the obedience of Christ. — 2 Cor. 
10:4, 5. 
armor For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, 

and but against principalities, against powers, against 

weapons. the rulers of the darkness of this world, against 
spiritual wickedness in high- places. Wherefore 
take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 321 

may be able to withstand in the evil day, and 
having done all, to stand. — Eph. 6:12, 13. 
Victory Nay, in all these things we are more than 

in Christ, conquerors through him that loved us. — Rom, 
8:37. 

92. JONATHAN. 1 Sam. 14:6-15. 

A great Philistine army of invasion had come up against 
Israel, chariots and horsemen and people, "as the sand which 
i!5 on the seashore in multitude." Saul was afraid and hi^^ 
people greatly distressed so that they "did hide themselves 
in caves, and in the thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, 
and in pits." Destitute of weapons and no smith to forge 
them, the children of Israel were poorly prepared to meet 
their enemies, Chap. 13: 5-7, 17-23. 

The universal darkness and dread, fear and trembling, 
even of the king and his feeble band, is relieved by a little 
ray of light in the presence of one heroic spirit. "Without 
acquainting his father with his intention, Jonathan, the 
king's son, with only his armor-bearer to accompany him, 
planned and carried out a successful assault on one of the 
Philistine strongholds, which led to the complete rout of the 
whole Philistine force, a series of incidents full of instruc- 
tion for God's people today. 

1. The words of Jonathan to his armor-bearer, 14:6, "It 
may be that the Lord will work for us," demonstrate a 
wonderful faith, a faith that would seem more like fool- 
hardiness to some perhaps even today. But such great faith 
has always pleased God. The reply of the armor-bearer, 
(what was his name?) is no less beautiful in its courag- 
eousness, "I am with thee according to thine heart." If ev- 
ery leader and every member among God's people today had 
the spirit of these two, how much could be done for God. 
These are like Gideon's 300. 

2. In the ninth and tenth verses two tests are pro- 
posed. They will stand still or advance against the enemy, 
according to the word they receive from them. Can anyone 
doubt which word Jonathan was anxious to hear? He wanted 
to hear the challenge of the Philistines, "Come up," and he 

20 



322 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

heard it. We generally hear what we want to hear. If we 
are really ' anxious to go forward we will surely hear such a 
commahd. Many of God's people today seem afraid that 
they will hear such a message. They got the word they 
wanted, and faith will get the word it wants now. In this 
spiritual warfare it is good to go up to the battle on our 
knees, vs. 13. 

3. The faith of Jonathan, "For there is no restraint to 
the Lord," was rewarded. There "was a very great tremb- 
ling," among the Philistines now, in the host, the field, the 
people, the garrison, the spoilers, and even in the very 
earth itself, vs. 15. Such faith in God's people today would 
make such a trembling among all the enemies that the king- 
dom of darkness would be shaken to its foundation. 

Following the first onslaught of these two came the gen- 
eral rout of the whole Philistine army, and pursuit by the 
Israelites. It is interesting to note how when the battle was 
practically won by these two the faint-hearted and cowardly 
ones were emboldened, came out of their hiding places and 
joined in the pursuit, vs. 21, 22. It is often so today. When 
the work is down most of the church hide out, but when a 
faithful few have prayed and worked and brought it up to 
the top again, many are ready to say, What a splendid re- 
vival "we" have had! But let not the ones who sacrifice, toil 
and suffer, begrudge the grain of credit the others take to 
themselves; the faithful will have their larger reward. God 
has their labor of faith and love all down in his "book of re- 
membrance." "So the Lord saved Israel that day." 
Faiih And Jonathan said to the young man that bare 

and his armor. Come, and let us go over unto the gar- 

Courage, risen of these uncircumcised: it may be that the 
Lord will work for us :for there is no restraint to 
the Lord to save by many or by few. And his 
Armor-bearer said unto him. Do all that is in thine 
heart; turn thee; behold, I am with thee accord- 
ing to thine heart. — 1 Sam. 14:6,7. 
''Ears to And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan 

Hear." and his armor-bearer, and said. Come up to us, 

' V and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan 

iii, .. ^^.^ ^^^^^ j^.^ armor-bearer. Come up after me; 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 323 

for the liOrd hath delivered them into the hand of 

Israel. — 1 Sam. 14:12. 
The Lord The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise 

up against thee to be smitten before thy face; 

they shall come out against thee one way, and 

flee before thee seven ways. — Deut. 28:7. 
gives the One man of you shall chase a thousand: for 

the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, 

as he hath promised you. — Josh. 23:10. 
victory. How should one chase a thousand, and two put 

ten thousand to flignt, except their rock had sold 

them, and the Lord had shut them up. — Deut. 

32:30. 

93. CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS: DESIRE, 
REPENTANCE, CHOICE. 

The natural ambition of everyone in the world is to suc- 
ceed; no one really wants or loves to fail. A very funda- 
mental principle of success is desire to succeed. We may 
desire to succeed and yet fail sometimes from other causes, 
but if we have no desire to succeed we are pretty sure, if 
not absolutely certain to fail. 

But what is success? Men have acquired great fortunes, 
have obtained great knowledge, have attained high positions, 
have become eminent in a thousand lines of life; can we 
say they have been successful? Prom one standpoint they 
have been. There are two standards of success, the natural 
and the spiritual, of man and of God, of earth and heaven, 
the shadow and the substance, the transient and the eternal. 

All the success named of itself alone is only natural, 
of man and the earth, is transient and but a shadow. A man 
may succeed in all the ways spoken of and yet make an utter 
and absolute failure of life. A man may fail in all these 
points and yet succeed most wonderfully and truly, but his 
success will not be noticed or make him great on earth. 
Thousands of the really great ones of earth have never 
been heard of, or been written on earth's roll of fame and 
honor. God does not look much at what we call success. He 
will not say, "Well done good and successful servants," but 



324 ^ THE BIBLE COMPANION 

"Well done good and faithful servants." Spiritual success is 
to be faithful unto death in the things God has given us to 
do in his church and kingdom, the spreading of the gospel and 
the saving of souls. The success by church or individual is 
in these spiritual and eternal things. The truly successful 
man, woman, or church, is the soul-winning one. How can 
we so succeed? 

1. We must remember the fundamental principle of de- 
sire to succeed. It is wonderful how people succeed in every 
worldly way. But it is because they have such strong de- 
sire to succeed that it leads them to give their whole life 
to that end. It is a shame how Christian people fail in their 
Christian work, but no wonder, for they have so little desire 
to succeed. We succeed or fail as desire is present or ab- 
sent. Desire leads to effort. 

2. Repentance. Tms great desire for worldly things 
and little desire for heavenly things is wrong. We have 
grown cold, have left our tirst love and need to repent,' 
it was not so when we were first converted. (See Kev. 
2:4,5; Deut. 30:1-10). In tnis last chapter note the three 
calls of obedience, as an evidence of true repentance, and also 
the woras of John the Baptist, Matt. 3:8. 

3. hight Choice. Following our repentance we choose 
the better way of right desire and effort for more heavenly 
things, 'ihe way in very plain, vs. Ii-13. Note in ine re- 
maining verses, 15-20, how God sets beiore all souls even of 
the ones we should be striving to win, life and death, good 
and evil, blessing and cursing, and before us the larger life, 
the greater good, the richer blessing. God wants all to 
choose life, good, blessing. We have chosen the wrong by 
nature. In this meeting many souls may be at the is^adesh 
Barnea of salvation and the larger, more "abundant life." 

"There is a line by us* unseen, 
That crosses every path; 
The hidden boundary between 
God's patience and his wrath." 
A little delay and the choice and loss becomes eternal, 
of the soul to the unsaved; of rich reward to many careless 
believers. 

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 325 

because thou hast left thy first love.— Rev. 2:4. 
Repent- - Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repent- 
ance. • ance. — Matt. 3:8. 

"Return'? And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and 

and Shalt obey his voice according to all that I qom- 

"Obey." mand thee this day, thou and thy children, with 
all thine heart, and with all thy soul * * *And 
Return and thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, 
obey. and do all his commandments which I command 

thee this day. If thou shalt hearken unto the 
Turn and voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his command- 
keep, ments and his statutes which are written in this 
book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord 
Plain way. thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy 
soul. But the word is very nigh unto thee, in 
thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayst 
do it.— Deut. 30:2, 8, 10, 14. 
God's way For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 
best. are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. — Is. 55:8. 
The choice. See, I have set before thee this day life and 
good, and death and evil * * * i call heaven and 
earth to record this day against you, that I have 
set before you life and death, blessing and curs- 
ing: therefore choose life, that both thou and 
thy seed may live. — Deut. 30:15, 19. 
Right For I determined not to know anything among 
desire. you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. — 1 Cor. 
2:2. 

94. CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS— PRAYER, FAITH. 

Many lessons of great profit may be learned from the 
history of God's people in Old Testament times. Paul meant 
the Old Testament especially when he wrote, "All Scripture is 
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for 
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that 
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto 
all good works." While the whole 4000 year period is full of 
general lessons, each period has some teachings specially and 
peculiarly its own. Half of this study is from the book of 
Judges. 



326 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Under Moses and Joshua the people while not perfect, 
being often filled with murmuring and unbelief, were yet 
fairly faithful. "And the people served the Lord all the days 
of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, 
who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did 
for Israel." But following the time of Joshua and these 
elders comes the period of the judges, some 400 years in 
duration, the darkest hours in all their history. 

During this time the people were going backward and 
forward, lapsing into idolatry and returning to God over and 
over again. The sad refrain, "And the children of Israel did 
evil," did evil, did evil, is repeated so often as to become 
monotonous if not soul-sickening. "And they forsook the 
Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land 
of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people 
that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto 
them, and provoked the Lord to anger." "And the anger of 
the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into 
the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them 
into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they 
could not any longer stand before their enemies." * * * 
"Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered 
them out of the hand of those that spoiled them." * * * "And 
it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, 
and corrupted themselves more than their fathers." Judges 
2:7, 12, 14, 16, 19. 

Four words give a condensed history of this dark period: 
sin, defeat, repentance and deliverance. Human nature is 
the same in every age and generation. What was true of 
God's ancient people is true of his church today, only in a 
spiritual more than a literal sense. Through spiritual idol- 
atry God's people are often overcome by the world, are weak 
and suffer many defeats, individually and collectively as 
churches. This makes revivals necessary. With every one 
of the fifteen judges came a partial revival. We wonder at 
their weakness, but we need not condemn them, for it is 
doubtful whether a modern revival lasts any longer than 
theirs, if as long. 

Two things, prayer and faith, are essential conditions of 
success in revival and soul-winning work. Note that these 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



327 



two are closely connected, really inseparable, twin exercises ; 
that prayer always includes confession and implies repentance, 
and that faith is both defensive and offensive. When Israel 
cried to God he heard them and sent deliverance. But they 
had to feel their need deeply before they would cry, and so 
it is today. When God's people feel their need, and cry to 
him in faith, he will send "showers of blessing." But as long- 
as they think they are "rich and have need of nothing,'! there 
is little hope of a revival. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." 
Prayer And when the children of Israel cried unto the 

and Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer to the chil- 

Othniel. dren of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel 
the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. — 
Jud. 3:9. 

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord ; 
for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and 
twenty years he mightily oppressed the children 
of Israel. — Jud. 4:3. 

And Israel was greatly impoverished because 
of the Midianites; and the children of Israel 
cried unto the Lord. — ^Jt:d. 6:6. 

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, 
saying. We have sinned against thee, both be- 
cause we have forsaken our Gody and also served 
Baalim.— Jud. 10:10. (See also, 2 Kings, 19:14-19, 
35, for a later experience.) 

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever 
ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive 
them, and ye shall have them. — Mk. 11:24. 

Then said David unto the Philistine;- Thou 
comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, 
and with a shield: but I come to thee in the 'name 
of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of 
Israel, whom thou has defied. * * * So David' pre- 
vailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a 
stone, and smote the Philistine and slew him. — 
1 Sam 17:45, 50. 

And what shall I say more? for the time would 
fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of 
Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and 



Prayer 

and 

Deborah. 

Gideon. 



Confession. 
Jephthah. 



Faith. 



David's 

faith, 

both 

defensive 

and 

offensive. 



Faith. 



328 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith 
subdued kihgdoms, wrought righteousness, ob- 
tained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.— 
Heb. 11:32, 33. 
A And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have 

great given into thine hand Jericho, and the king 

faith- thereof, and the mighty men of valor. And ye 

victory. shall compass the city, all ye men of war,, and 
go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou 
do six days. And seven priests shall bear before 
the ark seven trumpets of ram's horns : and the 
seventh day ye shall compass the city seven 
times, and the priests shall blow with the trum- 
pets. And it shall come to pass, that when they 
make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when 
ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people 
shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of 
the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall 
ascend up every man straight before him. * » * 
So the people shouted when the priests blew 
with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the 
people heard the sound of the trumpet, ard the 
people shouted with a great shout, that the wall 
fell down flat, so that the people went up into 
the city, every man straight before him, and they 
took the city. — Josh 6:2-5, 20. 

95. CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS. 



The two conditions of this study are much like the last, 
something of a distinction without a difference, the first, 
"inquiring the way," being really prayer, and the second, 
"obedience," being faith in action. Yet viewing the same truth 
from a different angle often gives new, helpful light. In the 
promise of Deut. 28:1, "The Lord thy God will set thee on 
high above all the nations of the earth," Israel certainly had 
as large a promise of temporal success as could possibly be 
given them, and the same promise may be claimed by God's 
people today in a spiritual sense. But it was necessary for 
them, and it is necessary for us, to notice the condition on 



THE BIBLE COMPANIOISr 32ft 

which this large promise was and is based, "If thou shalt 
hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to 
observe and to do all his commandments, which I command 
thee this day." 

1. Inquiring the way. Our whole life is one long interro- 
gation. The child begins to ask questions as soon as it can 
talk, and we keep it up all our life, if we continue to learn. 
In every possible line of human thought or activity men, 
women and children are continually inquiring the way. It is 
the method of education, whether in the schools, or by 
observation and experience. The scholar needs his textbook, 
the traveler his guide-book, the mariner his log-book, the 
general his field-book. There are a thousand books showing 
the way to success in all worldly things. The Bible is the 
one book showing us the way to success in all spiritual and 
eternal things. If there is need to inquire about the worldly 
things we see, and no one succeeds unless he does, how 
much more necessary to inquire about the things spiritual 
that we do not see. And yet how many are inquiring about 
earthly things, and how few about heavenly things. 

"Broad is the road that leads to death. 

And thousands walk together there; 
But wisdom shows a narrow path. 
With here and there a traveler." 
And how often the inquiries that are made about heavenly 
things instead of being sincere, are insincere, dissembling 
or hyprocritical. Many inquire of the Lord that he may direct 
them the way they want to go. Read without fail the 42d. 
and 43d. chapters of Jeremiah. God's Word is a mirror. 

2. Obedience. As in all worldly things we must act on 
our inquiries, follow the instruction we receive to succeed, 
so it must be in spiritual things. If we inquire of God in 
prayer, or of his Word through study, we must follow in 
obedience or we shall fail. Knowing and doing must go 
together, and then great blessings follow. Knowledge with- 
out obedience only condemns. "If ye know these things, 
happy are ye if ye do them," Jesus said. 

Sincere Yea. if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest 

inquiring, up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest 

her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid 



330 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



Earnest 
Ezra. 



Insincere 



hearing. 



Disseni' 
bling. 

Success 
from the 



obedience 



of faith. 



treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of 
the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. — Prov. 
2:3-5. 

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river 
of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before 
our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and 
for our little ones, and: for all our substance. — 
Ezra 8:21. 

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, 
and they sit before thee as my people, and they 
hear thy words, but they will not do them: for 
with their mouth they show much love, but their 
heart goeth after their covetousness. — Ezek. 33:31. 

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, 
and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the 
good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest 
unto your souls. But they said, We will not 
walk therein. — Jer. 6:16. 

And he came to the second, and said likewise. 
And he answered and said, I go, sir; and went 
not— iViatt. 21:30. 

This book of the law shall not depart out of 
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day 
and night, that thou mayest observe to do accord- 
ing to all that is written therein: for then thou 
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou 
shalt have good success. — Josh. 1:8. 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, 
that they may have right to the tree of life, and 
may enter in through the gates into the city. — 
Rev. 22:14. 

Jesus answered and said unto them. This is 
the work of God, that ye believe on him whom 
he hath sent. — J no. 6:29. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 331 



96. CONDITIONS OF DEFEAT. 

We will notice two of these in this brief study, unbelief 
and disobedience. These two are very closely related if not 
practically the same. As obedience is faith in action, faith 
a kind of divine plant and obedience its fruit, so disobedi- 
ence is the fruit of the devil's plant of unbelief. As man was 
lost by disbelieving and disobeying God, and by believing and 
obeying Satan, so now he is saved by a complete reversal of 
the primary principle r he must believe God and disbelieve 
Satan. For the practical identity of unbelief and disobedi- 
ence see Heb. 4:11, "Let us labor therefore to enter into 
that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbe 
lief," (margin, "disobedience.") 

1. UNBELIEF. The above text in Hebrews refers to 
the history of God's people as given in the fourteenth chapter 
of Numbers. This is a great chapter; study it carefully. 
The children of Israel were at a great crisis. They had come 
to Kadesh Barnea, the very border of the promised land. 
They might have gone in and possessed the land and had 
rest and plenty, but instead they failed through their unbelief 
and turned back to wander forty years in the wilderness. 
There is such a crisis, such a Kadesh Barnea in the life of 
churches and of souls, and this often comes at a time of 
revival, many souls failing of salvation through unbelief, and 
churches meeting with defeat, failing to rise and win vic- 
tories as they should. 

"There is a time by us unknown, 
A place we know not where, 
That marks the destiny of men, 
To glory or despair." 

2. DISOBEDIENCE. We see the defeat and failure of 
the children of Israel through unbelief in Num. 14. Twice 
14 is 28. Read the blessings and curses of Deut. 28, fourteen 
verses of blessing, real success, and 54 of curses, defeat and 
loss; nearly four times as many verses promising evil for 
disobedience as of verses promising good for obedience, and 
this not because God loves to curse more than to bless, but 



332 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

for our warning. Disobedience brings sure defeat. 

As an individual example of this, take the life of Saul, 
the first regular king of Israel. In 1 Sam. 13:13, 14 we 
hear Samuel saying to Saul on the occasion of his first 
disobedience, 'Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept 
the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded 
thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom 
upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not con- 
tinue," And again on his second disobedience we hear 
Samuel saying to him in 1 Sam. 15:22,23, "To obey is bettet 
than sacrifice. * * * Because thou hast rejected the word 
of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 
In the next verse we have Saul's answer, a confession un- 
availing because too late, "And Saul said unto Samuel, I have 
sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the 
Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed 
their voice." "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall 
confess," but with many the confession, like Saul's, will 
come too late. For his third disobedience, bringing defeat 
and death, see the study. 

Unbelief, So we see that they could not enter in be- 

cause of unbelief. — Heb. 3:19. 
dis- But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not 

obedience, hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to 
defeat. observe to do all his commandments and his 

statutes which I command you this day; that all 
these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake 
thee.— Deut. 28:15. 
For Saul's Then said Saul unto his servants. Seek me a 

three woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may 

sins of go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants 

dis- said unto him. Behold, there is a woman that 

obedience, hath a familiar spirit at En-dor. And Saul dis- 
guised himself, and put on other raiment, and he 
went, and two men with him, and they came to 
the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, 
divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring 
me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. — 1 Sam, 
28:7,8. 
came So Saul died, and his three sons, and his 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 333 

armorbearer, and all his men, that same da3' 

together. — 1 Sam. 31:6. 

dishonor, So Saul died for his transgTession which he 

defeat, committed against the Lord, even against the 

death. word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also 

for asking counsel of one that had a familiar 

spirit, to enquire of it; and enquired not of the 

Lord; therefore he slew him, and turned the 

kingdom unto David, the son of Jesse. (Samuel 

did not appear to Saul. The witch fooled Saul, 

and the devil tricked the witch.) — 1 Chron. 10: 

. 13,14. 

97. CONDITIONS OF DEFEAT. 

While there may be a hundred or more of these, it will 
pay to look at two more especially, coveteousness and idolatry. 
These two are also very closely related, even sometimes 
identical, if not always perfectly synonomous, a kind of devil's 
Siamese twins. For their identity see Eph. 5:5 and Col. 3:5, 
"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, 
nor covetous man who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in 
the kindgom of Christ and of God." "Mortify therefore your 
members which are upon the earch, fornicacion, uncleanness 
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness 
which is idolatry." 

It is sad and awfully staitling to notice in these two 
verses the company which these two conditions keep, and 
well for us to remember that the sin of covetousness may 
be committed without ever looking on or wishing for the 
things of others. The inordinate love of the things which we 
call our own is covetousness. 'And he said unto them. Take 
heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth 
not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." We 
break the tenth commandment when we love our money so 
much that we are unwilling to use it freely for the glory of 
God and the good of man; when we keep back from God 
the tithe of our income which belongs to him. In this keeping 
back our tithe, committing the double sin of covetousness and 
idolatry, we also commit another sin in breaking the eighth 



334 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

commandment in the worst possible form, for we are guilty 
of robbing God; he says so himself. Is our conscience so 
elastic that we think it is sin to steal from man, but no sin 
to steal from God? 

See in this study how the sins of covetousness and 
idolatry in Achan, Gehazi, Solomon, and both kingdoms of 
Israel and Judah, led to their defeat and punishment individu- 
ally and collectively; it is an instructive though sad view. 
Would God be so strict with his people of old with their little 
knowledge and light and wink at the same sins of his more 
enlightened people today? He says just the apposite, "That 
the times (in the past) of this ignorance, God winked at, 
but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent." 

In these sins today, seen in the greed and avarice of the 
age, we have the greatest hindrance to the gospel and the 
greatest source of defeat to God's people. Many Christians 
are piling up the wealth of this world, but laying up little 
treasure in heaven; are growing temporally rich but spiritual- 
ly poor. God cannot bestow upon them the riches of his 
grace, the greater things, because they are "unfaithful in that 
which is least." Lu. 16:10-12. So many individual Christians 
are in this condition that the church is weak and suffers 
defeat continually; lacks the measure of success it should 
have. 

Many churches are houseless and pastorless, and many 
pastors are churchless, the work is poorly sustained at home, 
and nothing done by these churches for the spread of the 
kingdom. And many of the stronger churches even are 
struggling to maintain their own life and standing in their 
various communities, when they ought to be sending mis- 
sionaries abroad. And all this because not only the world, 
but many Christians have the money-mania, and are amuse- 
ment mad, bowing down to the "almighty dollar," worshiping 
Mammon and Bacchus, the gods of wealth and pleasure, like 
the old Baalim and Ashtaroth. Jesus says, "Ye cannot serve 
God and Mammon." But many are trying to, and defeat is 
the result. All honor to the faithful ones in every church, 
and may this lesson help them and others. 
Achan's But the children of Israel committed a tres- 

sin of pass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



335 



covetous- 
ness 



and the 



people's 
defeat. 



Confession 
too late. 



Gehazi's 
sin and 
punish- 
ment. 



Our sin 
today. 



of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, 
of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: 
and the anger of the Lord was kindled against 
the children of Israel. — Josh. 7:1. 

So there went up thither of the people about 
three thousand men: and they fled before the men 
of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about 
thirty and six men: for they chased them from 
before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote 
them in the going down: wherefore the hearts 
of the people melted, and became as water. — 
Josh. 7:4,5. 

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; 
wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel 
hath sinned and they have also transgressed my 
covenant which I commanded them: for they 
have even taken of the accursed thing, and have 
aso stolen and dissembled also, and they have 
put it even among their own stuff. — Josh. 7:10, 11. 

When I saw among the spoils a goodly Baby- 
lonish garment, and two hundred shekels of sil- 
ver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, 
then I coveted them, and took them, and, behold, 
they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, 
and the silver under it. — Josh. 7:21. 

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of 
God, said, Behold my master hath spared Naaman 
this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that 
which he brought; but, as the Lord liveth, I will 
run after him, and take somewhat of him, * * 
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto 
thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went 
out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 
— 2 Kings 5:20,27. 

And there is that withholdeth more than is 
meet, but it tendeth to poverty. — Prov. 11:24. 

But they that will be rich fall into temptation 
and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful 
lusts, which drown men in destruction and per- 
dition. For the love of money is the root of all 



336 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

evil; whicli while some coveted after, they Jiave 

erred from the faith, and pierced themselves 

through with many sorrows. — 1 Tim. 6:9,10. 

Solomon's Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Foras- 

sin and loss.much as this is done of thee (idolatry), and thou 

hast not kept my commandments and my statutes, 

which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend 

the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy 

servant. — 1 Kings 11:11. 

Israel's sin In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria 

and took Samaria, and carried Israel away into 

punish- Assyria. * * For they served idols, whereof the 

ment. Lord had said unto them. Ye shall not do this 

thing.— 2 Kings 17:6, 12. 

Judah'ssin Moreover all the chief of the priests, and 

and the people, transgressed very much after the 

punish- abominations of the heathen; and polluted the 

ment. house of the Lord which he had hallowed in 

Jerusalem. * * And they burnt the house of God, 

and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt 

all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed 

all the goodly vessels thereof. — 2 Chron. 36:14,19. 

98. THE BATTLE THE LORD'S. 

In the 36th and 37th chapters of Isaiah we have an 
experience of God's people that is worth our careful study, 
finding a spiritual counterpart in the work of the church today 
in its evangelistic and missionary undertakings. 

Sennacherib king of Assyria had come up against all 
the defenced cities of Judah and had taken them. He then 
sends a great army against Jerusalem under his general 
Rabshakeh, who with a subtlety and bluffing boldness equal 
to the very devil himself taunts the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 
and with scorn and derision seeks to discourage and intim- 
idate them. With devilish cunning he seeks to undermine 
and weaken their faith hy telling them not to listen to 
Hezekiah their king who might say, "The Lord will deliver 
us." He had not delivered other nations, why should he 
deliver them? The devil works the same scheme today 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 337 

T'hen he would discoi:rage God's reople by sliowing all tlieir 
defeats and failures, raradiiig the iroud boastings of their 
enemies. But ail such boasting will come to nought. - 

"Zicn stands wi;ii hills surrounded, — 
Zion, kept by rower divine; 
All her foes stall be confounded, 

Though the world in arms combine." 

When the mocking words of Rabshakeh were reported to 
Hezekiah he too was filled with fear, "rent his clothes, and 
covered himself with sackcloth." Even our leaders are 
sometimes disheartened. But Hezekiah did the right thing, 
he "went into the house of the Lord," and sent a message 
to Isaiah. Too many now in times of discouragement stay 
away from the house of God. The prophet sent an encourag- 
ing message to the king, but this was followed by a letter 
direct from the Assyrian general, faith-killing in its design. 
How often in revival work we get these differing, conflicting 
messages, the one from heaven, the other from hell; o-ne 
optimistic, full cf faith and hope from some of God's loyal, 
loving children, another full of pessimism, fairly "blue" with 
criticism, objection and discouragement, if not of direct 
opposition from the world, or weak or worldly Christian, or 
some "doubting Thomas." 

But Hezekiah did the right thing with this letter. He 
"went up unto the house of the Lord, and spead it before 
the Lord, and Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord" — just the 
thing to do with all our work and troubles. Many go the 
wrong way with their difficulties and dangers. Note in his 
prayer how he recognizes God as the only true God, undis- 
puted in his sovereign greatness; how he prays God to see 
and hear and consider this letter as "sent to reproach the 
living God," making it God's cause, which in essence it really 
is first of all. We often forget this, think the work is all 
ours, and feel all the shame and defeat. Perhaps the fault 
was Hezekiah's and may be ours, but the king felt that God's 
honor had been impugned and was at stake, and prayed that 
God would deliver them this time from their enemies, that 
the nations might know that he only was the Lord. And so 

21 



338 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



may we pray. This is a strong motive if faithfully used. 
God was pleased with the king's faith and sent the great 
victory. If we have the same spirit and faith as Hezekiah 
why may we not have God on our side and win great victories 
for him in our work? The battle is the Lord's, but let us 
do our part. 
Hezekiah's And Hezekiah received the letter from the 



prayer 
and 



God's 

answer. 



Daniel's 
prayer. 



Our 

prayer. 



hand of the messengers, and read it: and Heze- 
kiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and 
spread it before the Lord. * * * Now therefore, 
O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all 
the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou 
art the Lord, even thou only. — Isa. 37:14,20. 

Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and 
smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred 
and fourscore and five thousand: and when they 
rose early in the morning, behold, they were all 
dead corpses. — Isa. 37:36. 

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open 
thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the 
city which is called by thy. name: for we do not 
present our supplications before thee for our 
righteousness, but for thy great mercies. — Dan. 
9:18. 

Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look 
down from heaven, and behold, and visit this 
vine; and the vineyard which thy right hand hath 
planted, and the branch that thou madest strong 
for thyself.— Ps.. 80:14,15. 

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people 
may rejoice in thee? — Ps. 85:6. 



99. CAPTIVE CHURCH LIBERATED. 



As God's people in olden times were led again and again 
into bondage through sin, so in a sense it is the same today. 
Three lines of helpful spiritual truth may be drawn in this 
connection from Ps. 126 and Acts 1 and 2. 

I. Our bondage. When this Psalm was written the 
childron of Israel were in their final seventy years of captivity 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 339 

the result of their sin. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we 
sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." Their 
captors said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion." And their 
answer was, "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange 
land?" 

How often the church today from sin is in a three-fold 
spiritual bondage to self, Satan and the world; are in a cold, 
backslidden state and can hardly pray or sing. Praise lan- 
guishes on their lips. But desire and praj^er brings reviving 
and liberty, refreshing streams where dry before, vs. 4, This 
is followed by testimony and rejoicing, vs. 3, 2, and the effect 
of this is the convincing of the world, vs. 2. The church is re- 
vived, they sow the seed with prayer and water it with tears, 
and a sure harvest of souls follows. 

II. A Successful Church. Seven points here may briefly 
engage our attention, taken from the history of the early 
church, which was a wonderfully successful one, found in 
Acts, chapters one and two. 

1. Obedience. Acts 1:4. Obedience necessary every- 
where else, nation, army, state, family; why suppose we can 
succeed without it in the church? 

2. Presence. Acts 1:15. The members were all pres- 
ent. So it should be today. One nail out of a building might 
not be missed, but half gone the building might fall. 

3. Harmony. Acts 2:1. "All with one accord." Some 
pulling one way and some another will bring defeat anywhere. 

4. All at work. Acts 2:4. "All began to speak." Some- 
thing for everyone to do, and every one doing it will make 
success certain. 

5. Prayer. Acts 1:14. All in prayer. Some things can 
go without prayer, but a church cannot. 

6. Giving. Acts 2:44,45. Praying and giving always go 
together. Matt. 6:1-8; Acts 10:4. 

7. Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4. These seven points all go 
together — all bound in one bundle. 

III. Reasons for joining. 

1. It was Christ's plan. He knows best. No record 
ot any outside. Acts 2:41,47. 

2. Christ's command. "Go into my vineyard." Obedi- 
ence better than sacrifice." Matt. 20:4. 



340 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

3. Honors Christ. So we render best service, bear 
"much fruit," Jno. 15:8. 

4. Please Christ. Eo his will, as he L.s Father's. Think 
of a soldier refusing to put on uniform, cr go inlo the ran ,s. 
Eph. 6:11. 

5. Safety. Wolves destroy lambs and ^Ijeep outside the 
fold. Children are better off in the home :han .n the screecs 
or scattered over the world. The church the home of God's 
children on earth, until he takes them to the home above. 
Jno. 10:9. 

6. Best care and food in the church, and consequent 
growth. Jno. 21:15, 

7. Share burdens. We are commanded co. Burdan 
bearers not burden makers. Gal. 6:2. 

8. Let our light shine. Have it on a candlestick, not 
under a bushel. Matt. 5:14. 

9. Strength in union. So every where else, family, busi- 
ness, army, states; why not in the church? Shall we be 
worldly-wise, but spiritually foolish? 1 Ccr. 12:12. 

10. Love cause Lis to. We want to be with the ones we 
love. Love is a centripetal force. Ihis law of siiiritual 
gravitation will draw us together here, and to God and heaven 
finally. Jno. 13:35. 

I. Set Free. 

Captives 1. When the Lord turned again the captivity 

set free, of Zion, we were like them that dream,. 2. Then 

witnessing, was our mouth filled with laughter, and our 

sowing tongue with singing; then said they among the 

and heathen, Ihe Lord hath dc^ne great things for 

reaping. them. 3. The Lord hath doiie foibdc things lor 

us; whereof we are glad. 4. xurn a^am uur 

captivity, O Lord, as the streams m the south, t). 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6. i±e 

that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious 

seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 

bringing his sheaves with him. — Fs. 126. 

IL Successful Church. 

Obedient. 1. And, being assembled together with them, 

commanded them that they should not depart from 

Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 341 

which, saith he, ye have heard of me. — Acts 1 :'4. 

Present. ■^. And in those days Feter stood up in the 

midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of 
names together were about an hundred and twen- 
ty).— Acts 1 :15. 

Har- 3. And when the day of Pentecost was fully 

monious. come, they were all with one accord in one place. 
—Acts 2:1. 

Air at 4. And they were all filled v/ith the Holy. 

work. Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, 

as the Spirit gave them utterance. — Acts 2:4. 

Praying. 5. These all continued with one accord in 

prayer and supplication, v>'ith the women, and 
Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 
—Acts. 1:14. 

Giving. 6. And all that believed were together, and 

had ail things common; and sold their possessions 
and goods, and parted them to all men, as every 
man had need. — Acts 2:44,45. 

Spirit 7. And they were all filled with the Holy 

filled. Ghost.— Acts 2:4. 

III. Ten Reasons for Joining. 

Christ's 1. Then they that gladly received Ms word 

plan and were baptized: and the same day there were add- 
ed unto them about three thousand souls * * * 
And the Lord added to the church daily such as 
should be saved. — Acts 2:41,47. 

command. 2. And said unto them; Go ye also into the 

vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. 
And they went their way. — Matt. 20:4. 

Honor and 3. Herein is my Father glorified .that ye 

please bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. — 

Jno. 15:8. 

Him. 4. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye 

may be able to stand against the wiles of the 
devil.— Eph. 6:11. 

Safe. 5. I am the door; by me if any man enter 

in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and 
find pasture. — Jno. 10:9. 

Care and 6. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to 



342 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

food. Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me 

more than these? He saith unto him, Yea Lord; 

thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him^ 

Feed my lambs. — Jno. 21:15. 
Burden 7. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so ful- 

bearers. fill the law of Christ. — Gal. 6:2. 
Lights. 8. Ye are the light of the world. A city that 

is set on a hill cannot be hid. — Matt. 5:14. 
Strength 9. For as the body is one and hath many 

In union. members, and all the members of that one body^ 

being many, are one body: so also is Christ. — 

1 Cor. 12:12. 
Love 10. By this shall all men know that ye are my 

draws. disciples, if ye have love one to another. — Jno» 

13:35. 

100. WOES. 

What this last study lacks in length it may make up in 
intensity. Passing by the "woes" of Matt. 23, the woe chap- 
ter of the Bible, as belonging to the scribes and Pharisees, 
those who claimed to be religious, but made no pretense of 
accepting Christ and his teaching, let us look at those which 
relate to the professed followers of Christ. For while these 
woes are recorded in the Old Testament, they yet apply to- 
God's spiritual Israel whether in the old or in the new 
dispensation. In considering these solemn words let us not 
make the mistake of thinking God took delight in pronounc- 
ing them, or in pouring them out as recorded in Revelation, 
And yet let us not make the mistake again of thinking they 
do not mean much, are merely rhetorical effusions. 

These woes are to be considered as announced rather 
than pronounced, a foretelling of the inevitable consequence 
of following a wrong course of conduct. Spiritual law is a& 
undeviating as natural law. A given cause will produce a 
certain effect. So God says a curse will follow "doing noth- 
ing," or doing our work negligently, Jer. 48:10, margin, and a 
woe for being at ease in Zion, Again he sets a special mark 
upon the ones who are deeply concerned in Zion, and pro- 
nounces a blessing upon those that mourn over the cold, 
dead condition that needs reviving. If God should go through 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 343 

his church as of old how many would be saved by the mark? 
Doing Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, 

nothing. curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because 

they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help 

of the Lord against the mighty. — Jud. 5:23. 
Careless. Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord 

negligently. (R. V.)— Jer. 48:10. 
"At ease." Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.— Amos 

6:1. 
Tile saving And the Lord said unto him, Go through the 
mark. midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, 

Saint or and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men 
sinner. that sigh and that cry for all the abominations 

that be done in the midst thereof. — Ezek. 9:4. 
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker. — 

Isa. 45:9. 
"Joy for Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall 

mourning." be comforted. — Matt. 5:4. 

101. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. 

Marriage is one of the greatest blessings that God has 
given the world, one of the best gifts that a beneficent Creator 
has bestowed upon his creatures, making possible happy 
homes and good society. Where marriage is little esteemed 
or disregarded social conditions are wretched and the home 
is ruined. 

When man was created God saw that it was "not good 
for him to live alone," so he graciously provided him a help- 
meet, gave them a home m Lden, united them in marriage 
and pronounced his blessing upon them. As to the relative 
position of husband and wife, old Matthew Henry in his 
comment on the creation of woman, has it about right when 
he says most truly and beautifully that — "She was taken not 
from man's feet to be trodden upon, (as we see in barbarism), 
nor from his head to rule over him, but from his side and 
next his heart, that she might be his beloved partner, a recil 
companion." 

Man is a different order of being from the rest of the 
animal Cieacion, miinueiy superior, bemg luaue but a uaie 



3U THE BIBLE COMPANION 

13-wer than the angels, having a physical nature like cther 
animals, but unlike them endowed with an immortal, never 
dying spiiit. When Gcd formed man of the dust of the 
i; round he "brey.thed into his nostrils the breath of life; and 
man became a living soul." This was not said of anything 
else in all of God's creation. 

All animals have the instinct of mating, and all, man 
in common with the rest, have the same general law for the 
I erpetuation cf species. But when we take into account the 
fact of man's immortality we can see clearly that his mating 
voik is a serious, solemn, infinitely important matter, call- 
irg for special direction and safe-guarding. This we find 
that Gcd has done in making marriage not a polygamous, or 
i olyandrous relation as among the lower animals, but monoga- 
mous, one man .and one woman for each other, and the 
union to be life long. If man were a gnat, or creature of a 
day or year or brief period, then the mating might be pro- 
miscuous as among the other animals, and as polygamy 
and divorce largely make it among mankind where these 
are practiced. Polygam.y and divorce are on the animal plane; - 
right marriage is on the higher plane designed of God for 
his higher creature, man. 

While polygamy and divorce were both permitted in the 
Old Testament times, it Vv^as not God's thought or purpose, as 
Jesus plainly teaches in his answer to the question the 
Pharisees asked of him, 'Is it lawful for a m.an to put away 
his wife for every cause?" "And he answered and said unto 
them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the 
beginning made them male and female, and said. For this 
cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave 
to his wife (not wives) : and they twain shall be one flesh? 
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What 
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 
They say unto him. Why did Moses then comm.and to give 
a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith 
unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts 
suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginn- 
ing it was not so." 

If these Scriptures mean anything they show that God's 
idea of marriage for man is altogether different from his idea 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 345 

of the mating of the rest of the animal creation. Nowhere 
does he speak of the mating of animals as he speaks of the 
marriage of man, and it is certainlj; best for man to keep to 
the high plane that God has marked out, rather than degrade 
himself to the lower plane of the animals. God has indeed 
indicated, as the Scriptures of this study will plainly show, 
that there is one just cause for divorce, but ONLY one, un- 
faithfulness of either to the marriage vow, unchastity, adul- 
tery. 

Of all the events in man's life from the cradle to the 
grave there is but one, the relation of the soul to its Maker, 
the soul's conversion, that is more important than this of 
marriage. Next to the tie that binds the individual soul to 
its Maker, the tie that unites husband and wife is, or should 
be, the strongest on earth, and nothing but death should 
ever sever it. This is God's view and is surely true and 
right. 

Marriage, however, has become a civil as well as a 
divine institution. But we need to remember that it was a 
divine institution long before it was recognized by civil 
courts, or before there were any such courts to so recognize 
it. As a civil institution apparently it is considered by many 
as being like any other contract, a thing to be entered into 
or broken at pleasure, by the parties so agreeing. This 
view is on the lower plane and is most inexpressibly unfortu- 
nate. Many seeing it only as a civil engagement, are getting 
away entirely from the divine view, God's original purpose 
of marriage for man. In the thought of God the marriage 
bond is to be held absolutely inviolable and indissoluble. 
This taking but the civil view of marriage may go far to- 
wards accounting for the large number of divorces in these 
days, leading to little more than a kind of experimenting 
in marriage, which some even openly advocate. 

The prevalence of divorce is alarming and is becoming 
a real menace to good society, right government and our 
very civilization, for none of these can be what they should 
be when the home is destroyed. Statistics show that divorce 
is greatly on the increase in this country, doubling in the 
past twenty years, and two to one in the west what it 
is in the east. It is also shown that only one other country 



346 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

in the world, Japan, exceeds the United States in the num- 
ber of divorces per 100,000 population. Does the restless, 
bustling, mad rushing for money in our west account for 
the double number of divorces there, all this being against 
the quiet and settled peace of home life? Whatever the 
cause, it is certainly high time that great and good men 
and women everywhere should be crying out against this 
evil and doing what they can to remedy it. 

CAUSE. 

1. Lax laws — fewer divorces among Roman Catholics 
than among Protestants. 

2. General disregard of law — moral, social, home and 
the Bible. 

3. The young too intimate, too much freedom, little re- 
serve or modesty, leading to 

4. Too young marriages, and hasty marriages, "marry- 
ing in haste," etc. 

5. Little serious tliought about it, separate if they 
don't like it. 

6. No religious regard for it, just a step in the pleasure 
loving road so many follow. 

7. Taking the civil view, with civil officers to officiate, 
with little or no solemnity. 

8. Divorce too easy to get, a hundred causes urged, 'yet 
only one right. 

CURE. 

1. More moral principle inculcated, same standard of 
purity for men as for women. 

2. More seriousness, getting God's view of marriage, its 
sacredness, ministers officiate. 

3. Stricter legislation, grant divorce for but one Bible 
cause, or if for any other, not re-marry. 

4. Longer engagements, publishing marriage ten, twenty 
or thirty days previously. 

5. Issue no license to any separating for any cause but 
the Bible one. 

6. "Fop better, for worse" should be recognized and 
abided by. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



347 



7. Voluntary separation for a time, without divorce, set- 
tle many if not most cases. Both behaving themselves so 
for a time they would learn to appreciate each other more, 
and be glad to live together again, as the wife said, under 
precisely such conditions, in Kate Douglas Wiggan's"Susanna 
and Sue," "Never mind, John, let's forget and begin all 
over again/' 



Moses. 



Malachi. 



Jesus in 
Matthew, 



Mark, 



Luke. 



Paul's 
view and 
teaching. 



When a man hath taken a wife, and married 
her,and it come to pass that she find no favor 
in his eyes, because he hath found some un- 
cleanness in her: then let him write her a bill 
of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and 
send her out of his house. — Deut. 24:1. 

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord 
hath been witness between thee and the wife of 
thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacher- 
ously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife 
of thy covenant. And did not he make one? * * 
therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none 
deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 
For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he 
hateth putting away. — Mai. 2:14-16. 

But I say unto you. That Vv^hosoever shall put 
away his wife, saving for the cause of fornica- 
tion, causeth her to commit adultery: and whoso- 
ever shall marry her that is divorced committeth 
adultery. — Matt. 5:32. 

And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put 
away his wife and marry another, committeth 
adultery against her. And if a woman shall 
put away her husband and be married to another, 
she committeth adultery. — Mark 10:11,12. 

Whosoever putteth away his wife, and mar- 
rieth another, committeth adultery; and whoso- 
ever marrieth her that is put away from her hus- 
band committeth adultery. — Lu.16:18. 

And unto the married I command, yet not I, 
but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her 
husband: but and if she depart, let her remain 
unmarried,or be reconciled to her husband: and 



348 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

let not the husband put away his wife. * * * 
The wife is bound by the law as long as her 
husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she 
is at liberty to be married to whom she will; 
only in the Lord.— 1 Cor. 7:10,11,39. 

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be 
married to another man, she shall be called an 
adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is 
free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, 
though she be married to another man. — Rom.7:3. 

TWENTY-FIVE EXCUSES FOR NOT COMING TO CHRIST. 

The making of excuses in all their relations and far- 
reaching consequences is one of the worst, most unfortunate 
habits to which the human race is addicted. The habit is 
universal. Our first common parents set the example, and 
all their descendents have trailed after them. Adam laid 
the blame on his wife. Eve thought to excuse herself by 
laying the blame on the serpent. And so it has ever been. 
Where a wrong has been done, or a duty neglected, each 
will excuse himself and blame some one else. 

These excuses may be legion and touch every line of 
life, domestic, social, business, political or religious, but 
they are all lies, few if any exceptions. Especially is this 
true of religious excuses. Where there is no duty, no excuse 
is needed. Where there is duty, no excuse will stand; every 
one is a falsehood. The devil, who is the "father of lies," 
is the great originator of all our excuses. He has been in 
the business of manufacturing them for 6,000 years. From 
him we have learned how to make a great many ourselves, 
but when we fail, the devil always has one ready for us, 
and one of the saddest things about our fallen human nature 
is the eagerness with which we jump at any excuse to keep 
from coming to Christ, or out of duty when we have come 
to him. 

Excuses are the devil's bait with which he catches souls, 
and a hungry fish never gnabbed the baited hook with 
more eagerness than men seize an excuse to keep from 
Christ or out of duty. Fish will not bite a bare hook, hut 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 349 

some of our excuses are so trifling, that we are as foolisli 
as a fish taking a hook without any bait. 

When God spealis or calls there is nothing for us to do 
but to hear and obey. Excuses are sins, mere declarations 
of our determination to continue our rebellion. For Chris- 
tians to make excuses is a double sin; they sin against 
God in so avoiding duty, and they set the pace for sinners. 
The devil especially loves to get Christians to make excuses. 
for then it is easy to get sinners to malve them, following 
the example of Christians whom they are watching. The 
devil has a full supply of excuses to fit both saints and 
sinners, and no merchant was ever more eager or polite 
in waiting upon a customer to fit him with what he needs 
than the devil to fit us with an excuse. 

It is not so much wonder that Christians should make 
or take these excuses, seeing they "got the habit" so com- 
pletely learned before they were converted — it is natural 
and easy to follow it still. But seeing and knowing all this, 
the source of excuses and their sad and awful effect upon 
ourselves and others, should make us sick of the whole 
excuse making business, and make us resolve to be done 
with them forever. 

The unconverted may have a thousand excuses for 
not coming to Christ. The devil will help each of them 
to frame one that will seem sufficient. But they should 
remember where these excuses come from, and reject every 
one. "Make no longer vain excuses." The following twenty- 
five excuses are some of the ones most commonly made, 
and the Scriptures give God's answer. The excuse is from 
Satan; the answer is of God. — '"Hear ye him." 
"Afraid of 1. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, 

and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal 
life; and they shall never perish, neither shall 
any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father. 
which gave them me, is greater than all; and 
no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's 
hand.— J no. 10:27-29. 
falling." For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor 

life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
noi; things present, nor things to come, nor 



350 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall 
be able to separate us from the love of God, 
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Rom. 8:38,39. 
God will Wherefore he is able to save them to the utter- 

most that come unto God by him, seeing he ever 
liveth to make intercession for them. — Heb. 7:25. 
Keep. I can do all things through Christ which 

strengtheneth me. — Phil. 4:13. 
''Too busy." 2. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon 

earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and 
where thieves break through and steal. — Matt. 
6:19. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and 
his righteousness; and all these things shall be 
added unto you. — Matt. 6:33. 

But they that will be rich fall into temptation 
and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful 
lusts, which drown men in destruction and per- 
dition. For the love of money is the root of 
all evil: which while some coveted after, they 
have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves 
through with many sorrows. — 1 Tim. 6:9,10. 
Remember And he spake a parable unto them, saying, 
Bunyan's The ground of a certain rich man brought forth 
picture plentifully: And he thought within himself, say- 

of the man ing. What shall I do, because I have no room 
with the where to bestow my fruits? And he said. This 
muck-rake, will 1 do: I will pull down my barns, and build 
greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits 
and my goods. And I will say to my soul. Soul, 
thou hast much goods laid up for many years; 
take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But 
God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy 
soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall 
those things be which thou hast provided? So is 
he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not 
rich toward God.— Lu. 12:16-21. 

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall 
gain the whole world, and lose his own soul — 
Mk. 8:36. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 351 

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns 
sprung up, and choked them. * * He also that 
received seed among the thorns is he that heareth 
the word; and the care of this world, and the 
deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he 
becometh unfruitful. — Matt. 13:7,22 

Women too. But Martha was cumbered about much serv- 
ing, and came to him, and said. Lord, dost thou 
not care that my sister hath left me to serve 
alone? bid her therefore that she help me. — 
Lu. 10:40. 

"Can't 3. He that believeth on the Son of God hath 

believe." the witness in himself: he that believeth not God 
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not 
the record that God gave of his Son. And this 
is the record, that God hath given to us eternal 
life, and this life is in his Son. — 1 J no. 5:10, 11. 
God These things have I written unto you that be- 

enables us lieve on the name of the Son of God; that ye may 
know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may 
believe on the name of the Son of God. — 1 J no, 
5:13. 

to believe. But these are written, that ye might believe 

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that 
believing ye might have life through his name. — 
Jno. 20:31. 

''Can't 4. And he said unto another. Follow me. But 

give up." he said. Lord, suffer me first to go and bury 
my father. Jesus said unto him. Let the dead 
bury their dead: but go thou and preach the 
kingdom of God. And another also said. Lord, 
I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them 
farewell, which are at home at my house. And 
Jesus said unto him. No man, having put his 
hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for 
the kingdom of God.— Lu. 9:59-62. 

Gain For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; 

infinitely but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake 
and the gospel's, the same shall save it. — Mk. 8:35. 

more than And he said unto them. Verily I say unto 



352 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

we lose. you, There is no man that hath left house, or 
parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, ior the 
kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive 
manifold more in this present time, and in the 
world to com-e life everlasting. — Lu. 18:29,30. 

Moses. taith Moses, when he was come to years, 

refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daugh- 
ter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with 
the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures ot 
sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of 
Christ greater riches than the treasures in 
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense 
of the reward. — Heb. 11:24-26. 

Paul. -ljuc what things were gain to me, those I 

counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtiess, and I 
count all things but loss for the excellency or 
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom 
I have suffered the loss of all things, and do 
count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 
and be found in him, not having m.ine own righ- 
teousness, which is of the law, but that which 
is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness 
which is of God by faith.— Phil. 3:7-9. 

Warning. For I say unto you, That none of those men 

which were bidden shall taste of my supper. - 
Lu. 14:24. 

"Can't un- 5. Ihe Pharisees also with the Sadducees 

derstand." cdrae, and tempting desired him that he would 
show them a sign from heaven. He answered and 
said unto them. When it is evening, ye say, It 
will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in 
the morning. It will be foul weather today: for 
the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, 
ye can discern the face of the sky: but can ye 
not discern the signs of the times? A wicked 
and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign: 
and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the 
sign of the prophet Jonas, and he left them, and 
departed.— Matt. 16:1-4. 

They said therefore unto him, What sign 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 353 

showest thou then, that we may see and believe 
thee? What dost thou work? — J no. 6:30. 
God For the Jews require a sign, and tlie Greeks 

helps if seek after wisdom. — 1 Cor. 1:22. 

But the natural man receivetli not the things 
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishnesd 
unto him: neither can he know them, because 
they are spiritually discerned.— 1 Cor. 2:14. 
we The fear of the Lord is the beginning of 

knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and in- 
struction. — Prov. 1:7. 

humbly Then shall we know, if we follow on to know 

the Lord. — Hos. 6:3. 
ask. If any one lack wisdom, let him ask of God, 

that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth 
not; and it shall be given him. — J as. 1:5. 

"Difflcul- 6. The secret things belong unto the Lord 

ties In the our God: but those things which are revealed 

Bible." belong unto us and our children for ever, that 

we may do all the words of this law. — Deut. 29:29. 
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them 
of these things; in which are some things hard 
to be understood, which they that are unlearned 
and .unstable wrest, as they do also the other 
Scriptures, unto their own destruction. — 2 Pet. 
3:16. 

Saving And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses 

truth and the prophets, neither vvill they be persuaded, 

though one rose from the dead. — Lu. 16:31. 

plain. If any man will do his will, he shall know of 

the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I 
speak of myself. — Jnc. 7:17. 

"Don't 7. As it is written, There is none righteous, 

feel." no, not one. For all have sinned, and come short 

of the glory of God. — Rom. 3:10,23. 

Sad state For there is not a just man upon earth, that 

doeth good, and sinneth not. — Eccl. 7:20. 

if true. And the Lord said. My Spirit shall not always 

strive with man. — Gen. 6:3. 

"Not 8. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will 

22 



354 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



drawn.' 



"Don't 
know how. 



Only 
believe. 



Three 

steps: 

Prayer, 

surrender, 

Faith. 



^'So many 
denomina- 
tions." 



"So many 
parties." 



draw all men unto me. — Jno. 12:32. 

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, 
and doeth it not, to him it is sin. — Jas. 4:17. 

9. But as many as received him, to them 
gave he power to become the sons of God, even 
to them that believe on his name. * * The next 
day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith. 
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
sin of the world! — Jno. 1:12,29. 

A new heart also will I give you, and a new 
spirit will I put within you: and I will take 
away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I 
will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put 
my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in 
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments 
and do them. — Ezek. 36:26,27. 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wil- 
derness, even so must the Son of man be lifted 
up: that whosoever believeth in him should not 
perish, but have eternal life. * * He that believ- 
eth on him is not condemned: but he that believ- 
eth not is condemned already, because he hath 
not believed in the name of the only begotten 
Son of God. * * * He that believeth on the Son 
hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not 
the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God 
abideth on him.— Jno. 3:14,15,18,36. 

10. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the 
same thing, and that there be no divisions among 
you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in 
the same mind and in the same judgment. For 
it hath been declared unto me of you, brethren, 
by them which are of the house of Chloe, that 
there are contentions among you. — 1 Cor. 1:10,11. 

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, 
I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; 
and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul 
crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name 
of Paul?— 1 Cor. 1:12, 13. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



355 



Don't we 
belong to 
any of 



them? 



"Frivolous 
excuses," 
devil- 
hatched. 



"Fear of 
tempta- 
tion." 



Jesus 
can help. 

"Fear of 
persecu- 
tion." 



Others 



have 



There is one body and one Spirit, even as 
ye are called in one hope of your calling; one 
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father 
of all, who is above all, and through all, and in 
you all.— Eph. 4:4-6. 

For as the body is one, and hath many mem- 
bers, and all the members of that one body, being 
many, are one body: so also is Christ. — 1 Cor. 
12:12. 

11. And they all with one consent began to 
make excuse. The first said unto him, I have 
bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go 
and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And 
another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, 
and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me 
excused. And another said, I have married a 
wife, and therefore I cannot come. — Lu. 14:18-20. 

12. For in that he himself hath suffered 
being tempted, he is able to succor them that 
are tempted. — Heb. 2:18. 

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: 
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown 
of life, which the Lord hath promised to them 
that love him. — J as. 1:12. 

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temp- 
tation: the Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh 
is weak. — Matt. 26:41. 

•13. These words spake his parents, because 
they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed 
•already, that if any man did confess that he was 
Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. — 
J no. 9:22. 

Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear 
of the Jews. — J no. 7:13. 

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also 
many believed on him; but because of the Phari- 
sees they did not confess him, lest they should 
be put out of the synagogue. — J no. 12:42. 

And they departed from the presence of the 
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy 



356 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



suffered. 

Heroes or 
cowards? 



"Good 
enough." 



God 



says 



"Don't 
believe." 



Must 



to suffer shame for his name. — Acts 5:41. 

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if 
we deny him, he also will deny us. — 2 Tim. 2:12. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, 
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of 
evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, 
and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward 
in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets 
which were before you. — Matt. 5:11,12, 

14. There is none that understandeth, there 
is none that seeketh after God. They are all 
gone out of the way, they are together become 
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, 
not one. — Rom. 3:11,12. 

Prom the sole of the foot even unto "the head 
there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and 
bruises ,and putrifying sores; they have not been 
closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with 
ointment. — Isa. 1:6. 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 
and the truth is not in us. * If we say that we 
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his 
word is not in us. — 1 J no. 1:8,10. 

For though thou wash thee with lye (R. V.), and 
take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked 
before me, saith the Lord God. — Jer. 2:22. 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all 
our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. — isa. 64:6, 

For they, being ignorant of God's righteous- 
ness, and going about to establish their own 
righteousness, have not submitted themselves 
unto the righteousness of God. — Rom. 10:3. 

15. The fool hath said in his heart. There 
is no God. — Ps. 14:1. 

Great men are not always wise; neither do 
the aged understand judgment.— Job 32:9. 

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear 
him; and he will show them his covenant. — 
Ps. 25:14. 

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



357 



believe 
God's Truth 



or the 
devil's lie. 



"Been mis- 
treated by 
church 
members." 



Their 
wrong 



will not 
make me 
right. 



'A little 



their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they 
have closed; lest at any time they should see 
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and 
should understand with their heart, and should 
be converted, and I should heal them. — Matt. 
13:15. 

But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them 
that are lost: in whom the god of this world 
hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, 
lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 
who is the image of God, should shine unto 
them. — 2 Cor. 4:3,4. 

16. Then said he unto the disciples. It is 
impossible but that offences will come: but woe 
unto him, through whom they come; it were 
better for him that a millstone were hanged about 
his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he 
should offend one of these little ones. — Lu. 17:1,2. 

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge 
against the children of thy people, but thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the 
Lord.— Lu. 19:18. 

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, 
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 
—Matt. 6:15. 

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye 
have aught against any; that your Father also 
which is in heaven may forgive you your tres- 
passes. But if ye do not forgive, neither will 
your Father which is in heaven forgive your 
trespasses. — M k. 11: 25, 26 

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but 
rather give place unto w^rath: for it is written, 
Vengence is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord, 
Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him; if he 
thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt 
heap coals of fire on his head. Be not over- 
come of evil; but overcome evil with good. — 
Rom. 12:19-21. 

17. Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for 



358 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



more 
pleasure." 



But will it 

pay? 
We must 
reap what 



we sow. 



"Don't 
care." 



Rejectors. 



Fearful 
words. 



Awful 

ending. 

"Just as 

good as the 
church 



whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also 
reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of 
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to 
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlast- 
ing.— Gal. 6:7,8. 

But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while 
she liveth. — 1 Tim. 5:6. 

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let 
thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, 
and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the 
sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all 
these things God will bring thee into judgment. — 
Eccl. 11:9. 

I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove 
thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, 
behold this also is vanity. — Eccl. 2:1. 

18. Because I have called, and ye refused; 
I have stretched out my hand, and no man re- 
garded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel^ 
and would none of my reproof: I also will mock 
when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as 
desolation, and your destruction cometh as a 
whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh 
upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I 
will not answer; they shall seek me early, but 
they shall not find me: for that they hated 
knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the 
Lord: they would none of my counsel: they de- 
spised all my reproof. Therefore shall they 
eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled 
with their own devices. — Pro v. 1:24-31. 

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in 
your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye 
shall die in your sins. — J no. 8:24. 

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great 
salvation? — Heb. 2:3. 

19. So then every one of us shall give account 
of himself to God. — Romi. 14:12. 

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and 
what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



359 



members." 

Beware of 
the devil's 
glasses. 



Look to 
Jesus 



instead. 

"Time 
enougii;" 

So Satan 
says. 



If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that 
to thee? follow thou me.— J no. 21:21,22. 

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with 
what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and 
with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured 
to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote 
that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not 
the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt 
thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the 
mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in 
thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out 
the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt 
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy 
brother's eye. — Matt. 7:1-5. 

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man. whoso- 
ever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou 
judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for 
thou that judgest doest the same thing. — Rom. 2:1. 
Let both grow together until the harvest; and 
in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers. 
Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them 
in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat 
into my barn. — IVIatt. 13:30. 

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth 
me is with me on the table. — Lu. 22:21. 

20. Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou 
knowest not what a day may bring forth. — Prov. 
27:1. 

Go to now, ye that say. Today or tomorrow we 
will go into such a city, and continue there a 
year, and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas 
ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For 
what is your life? It is even a vapor, that ap- 
peareth for a little time, and then vanisheth 
away. For that ye ought to say. If the Lord will, 
we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye 
rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is 
evil.— Jas. 4:13-16. 

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time 
accepted, and in the day of salvation have I sue- 



3()0 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

cored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; 
behold, now is the day of salvation.) — 2 Cor. 6:2. 
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his 
neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that with- 
out remedy. — Prov. 29:1. 
"Some 21. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, 

other time." call ye upon him while he is near. — Isa. 55:6. 
Satan's And as he reasoned of righteousness, temper- 

choicest lie. ance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and 
answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have 
a convenient season, I will call for thee. — Acts 
24:25. 
"Too great 22. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be 

sinner." clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 
~-Ps. 51:7. 

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them. They 
that are whole have no need of the physician, 
but that they are sick: I came not to call the 
righteous, but sinners to repentance. — Mk. 2:17. 
Jesus saved Come now, and let us reason together, saith 
just such, the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they 
shall be as white as snow: though they be red 
like crimson, they shall be as wool. — Isa. 1:18. 
"Too 23. Remember now thy Creator in the days 

young." of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor 

the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have 
no pleasure in them. — Eccl. 12:1. 
The very I love them that love me; and those that seek 

best time, me early shall find me. — Prov. 8:17. 
"Tried 24. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when 

before." ye shall search for me with all your heart. — 
Jer. 29:13. 

But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord 
thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek for 
him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. — 
Deut. 4:29. 
"Strive," Draw nigh to Gcd, and he will draw nigh to 

Jesus says. you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify 
your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and 
mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 361 

mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble 
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall 
lift you up.— James 4:8-10. 

"Waiting 25. So then every one of us shall give account 

for cf himself to God.— Rom. 14:12. 

some one." For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou 

shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O 
man, whether thou shalt save thy wife. — 1 Cor. 
7:16. 

TWENTY.-FIVE REASONS WHY SINNERS DO NOT COME 
TO CHRIST. 

Excuses and reasons are two different things. The 
excuse is at the surface, on the sinner's lips; the reason is 
deep seated in his heart, and the heart often deceives us. 
God says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and des- 
perately wicked." The excuse is a lie, not always a con- 
scious or wilful one, but a real one in essence, and the 
reason is insufficient. He is deceived about both of t^iem. 
Sin and Satan blinds. The excuse he may think is true, 
good and sufficient, yet it is false. The reason he may not be 
able to see or admit, may think is false, yet it is true. When 
God commands the sinner to repent and believe, or invites 
him to come, there is absolutely no good and sufficient 
reason why he cannot or should not, and he should make 
no excuse. In the day of judgment the sinner will be 
"speechless." No excuse will be taken then, and none should 
be offered now. Every moment of delay only increases the 
number and magnitude of our sins. We cannot make them 
one less by putting the matter off; they multiply daily and 
hourly. These "excuses" and "reasons" have been used 
very helpfully in many revival meetings; may God so con- 
tinue to bless them. 

Blindness 1. And when he was come near, he beheld 

to special the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst 
opportu- known, even thou, at least m this thy day, the 
nities. things which belong unto thy peace! but now 

Most are they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall 
saved in come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a 



362 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



revivals. 

Spiritual 
blindness. 



Jesus can 

open blind 

eyes. 

Careless 

and 
indifferent. 



Such words 
from God 
should 

arouse. 



Human 

teachings. 

(Regard 



trench about thee, and compass thee round, and 
keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee 
even with the ground, and thy children within 
thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone 
upon another; because thou knewest not the 
time of thy visitation. — Lu. 19:41-44. 

The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, 
and we are not saved. — Jer. 8:20. 

2. For this people's heart is waxed gross, 
and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes 
they have closed; lest at any time they should see 
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and 
should understand with their heart, and should 
be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed 
are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for 
they hear.— Matt. 13:15-16. 

But the natural man receiveth not the things 
of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to 
him: neither can he know them, because they 
are spiritually discerned. — 1 Cor. 2:14. 

3. For we must all appear before the judg- 
ment seat of Christ; that every one may receive 
the things done in his body, according to that 
he hath done, whether it be good or bad. — 2 Cor. 
5:10. 

That at that time ye were without Christ, 
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, 
and strangers from the covenants of promise, 
having no hope, and without God in the world. — 
Eph. 2:12. 

But a fearful looking for of judgment and 
fiery indignation, which shall devour the adver- 
saries. It is a fearful thing to fall into the 
hands of the living God.— Heb. 10:27,31. 

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall 
be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it 
will grind him to powder. — Lu. 20:18. 

4. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, 
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 
For laying aside the commandments of God, ye 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



363 



for.) 



A hundred 
fads and 
isms today. 



Having 

no desire 
for God. 



Hatred of 
God and of 
Christ. 
The carnal 
mind 
"enmity." 



Hatred of 
the truth. 



"Light 

received, 

Increaseth 



hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots 
and cups; and many other such like things ye 
do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject 
the commandments of God, that ye may keep 
your own tradition. — Mk. 7:7-9. 

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition 
of the elders? for they wash not their hands 
when they eat bread. But he answered and said 
unto them, Why do ye also transgress the com- 
mandments of God by your tradition? — Matt. 
15:2,3. 

5. But I know you, that ye have not the 
love of God in you. — J no. 5:42. 

And even as they did not like to retain God in 
their knowledge, God gave them over to a repro- 
bate mind, to do those things which are not 
convenient. — Rom. 1:28. 

6. If I had not come and spoken unto them, 
they had not had sin; but now they have no 
cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth 
my Father also. If I had not done among them 
the works which none other man did, they had 
not bad sin; but now have they both seen and 
hated both me and my Father. But this cometh 
to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that 
is written in their law. They hated me without 
a cause. — J no. 15:22-25. 

7. But his citizens hated him, and sent a 
messenger after him, saying. We will not have 
this man to reign over us. — Lu. 19:14. 

Then said the Lord of the vineyard, What 
shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may 
be they will reverence him when they see him. 
But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned 
among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come 
let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 
— Lu. 20:13, 14. 

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumclsed in heart and 
ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as 
your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets 



364 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

light; have not your fathers persecuted? and they have 

slain them which showed before of the coming 
of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the 
betrayers and murderers: who have received the 
law by the disposition of angels, and have not 
kept it.— Acts 7:51-54. 
Light When they heard these things they were 

rejected, cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with 

their teeth. 
bringeth And with all deceivableness of unrighteous- 

night." ness in them that perish; because they received 

not the love of the truth, that they might be 
saved. And for this cause God shall send them 
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 
that they might all be damned who believed not 
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 
—2 Thes. 2:10-12. 

For the time will come when they will not 

endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts 

shall they heap to themselves teachers, having 

itching ears. — 2 Tim, 4:3, 

Insincerity. 8. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of 

you, saying. This people draweth nigh unto me 

with their mouth, and honoreth me with their 

lips; but their heart is far from me. — IVIatt, 15:7,8. 

The baptism of John, whence was it? from 

heaven, or of men? and they reasoned with 

themselves, saying, If we shall say. From heaven; 

he will say unto us. Why did ye then not believe 

him? But if we shall say, of men; we fear the 

people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they 

answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And 

he said unto them, Neither can I tell you by what 

authority I do these things.— Matjt. 21:25-27. 

We only But what think ye? A certain man had two 

deceive sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, 

ourselves, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and 

said, I will not; but afterward he repented and 

went. And he came to the second, and said 

likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir; 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



365 



and went not. Whether of them twain did the 
will of his father? They say unto him, The 
first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto 
you, That the publicans and harlots go into the 
kingdom of God before you. — Matt. 21:28-31. 

He hoped also that money should have been 
given him of Paul, that he might loose him: 
wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and com- 
muned with him. — Acts 24:26. 
Love of 9. How can ye believe, which receive honor 

praise. one of another, and seek not the honor that Com- 

eth from God only. — J no. 5:44. 
Flattery. For they loved the praise of men more than 

the praise of God.— J no. 12:43. 
Love of the 10. For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved 
world. this present world, and is departed unto Thessa- 

lonica; Cresens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia, 
—2 Tim. 4:10. 
"Society," Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not 

pleasure. that the friendship of the world is enmity with 
God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the 
world is the enemy of God. — Jas. 4:4. 
Love of 11. And they that saw it told them how i,t 

money. befell to him that was possessed with the devil, 

and also concerning the swine. And they began 
to pray him to depart out of their coasts. — Mk. 
5:16,17. 

If we let him thus alone, all men will Delleve 
on him; and the Romans shall come and take 
away both our place and nation. — Jno. 11:48. 
Rich for a Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said 

moment: unto him. One thing thou lackest: go thy way, 
sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, 
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and 
come take up the cross, and follow me. And he 
was sad at that saying and went away grieved: 
for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked 
round about, and saith unto his disciples, How 
hardly shall they that have, riches enter into 
the kingdom of God.— IVlk. 10:21-23. 



366 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

poor for No servant can serve two masters: for either 

eternity. he will hate the one and love the other; or else 
he will hold to the one, and despise the other, 
Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. And the 
Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all 
these things: and they derided him. — Lu. 16:13, 14. 
Lack of 12. Some fell upon stony places, where they 

deep had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung 

convictions. up, because they had no deepness of earth: And 
when the sun was up, they were scorched; and 
because they had no root, they withered away.— 
Matt. 13:5,6. 
Remember But he that received the seed into stony places, 
poor the same is he that heareth the word, and anon 

"Pliable." with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in 
himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribula- 
tion or persecution ariseth because of the word, 
by and by he is offended. — iVIatt. 13:20,21. 

But they made light of it, and went their 
ways, one to his farm, another to his merchan- 
dise.— Matt. 22:5. 
Lack of 13. Then said one unto him. Lord, are there 

earnest- few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive 
ness. to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say 

unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be 
able. When once the master of the house is risen 
up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to 
stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, 
"Too late." Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and 
say unto you, I know ye not whence ye are. — 
Lu. 13:23-25. 
Neglect of 14. Then he said unto them, O fools, and 

the Bible, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets 
have written. — Lu. 24:25. 

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think 

ye have eternal life; and they are they which 

testify of me. — J no. 5:39. 

"The power These were more noble than those in Thess- 

of God." alonica in that they received the word with all 

readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



367 



Neglect of 
meetings. 
How much 
Thomas 
missed. 



Pride, 
(national,) 
(or race) 



Souls are 
not known 
by color. 



Pride, 
(intellec- 
tual.) 



daily, whether those things were so. Therefore 
many of them believed; also of honorable women, 
which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. — 
Acts 17:11,12. 

15. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called 
Didymus was not with them when Jesus came. 
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We 
have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 
Except I shall see in his hands the print of the 
nails, and put my finger into the print of the 
nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will 
not believe. — Jno. 20:24,25. 

For where two or three are gathered together 
in my name, there am I in the midst of them. — • 
Matt. 18:20. 

16. And think not to say within yourselves, 
We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto 
you, that God is able of these stones to raise up 
children unto Abraham. — Matt. 3:9. 

They answered him. We be Abraham's seed, 
and were never in bondage to any man: how 
sayest thou. Ye shall be made free? — Jno. 8:33. 

And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send 
thee far hence unto the Gentiles. And they gave 
him audience unto this word, and then lifted up 
their voices, and said. Away with such a fellow 
from the earth: for it is not fit that he should 
live.— Acts 22:21,22. 

17. At that time Jesus answered and said, I 
thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, 
because thou hast hid these things from the 
wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto 
babes.— Matt. 11:25. 

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into 
this world, that they which see not might see; 
and that they which see might be made blind. 
And some of the Pharisees which were with him 
heard these words, and said unto him. Are we 
blind also? Jesus said unto them. If ye were 
blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say. We 



368 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



see; therefore your sin remaineth. — J no. 9:39-41. 
Por it is written, I will destroy the wisdom 
of the wise, and will bring to nothing the under- 
standing of the prudent. Where is the wise? 
where is the scribe? where is the disputer of 
this world? hath not God made foolish the wis- 
dom of this world? For after that in the wisdom 
of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it 
pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to 
save them that believe. — 1 Cor. 1:19-21. 
"Blessed Let no man deceive himself. If any man 

are the among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let 

meek." him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the 

wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: 
for it is written. He taketh the wise in their 
own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth 
the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. — 
1 Cor. 3:18-20. 

18. Have any of the rulers of the Pharisees 
believed on him? — J no. 7:48. 

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that 
not many wise men after the flesh, not many 
mighty, not many noble, are called: But God 
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to 
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the 
weak things of the world to confound the things 
that are mighty. — 1 Cor. 1:26,27. 

Hearken, my beloved brethren. Hath not God 
chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and 
heirs of the kindgom which he hath promised 
to them that love him? — J as. 2:5. 

19. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by 
the wayside, and the fowls came and devoured 
them up. * * When anyone heareth the word of 
the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then 
cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that 
which was sown in his heart. This is he which 
received seed by the wayside. — Matt. 13:4,19. 

Satan robs But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them 

and blinds, that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath 



Pride, 
(social.) 
Saved by 
the letter 
"m." 



Poor rich 

and 
rich poor 

Power of 
the devil. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 369 

blinded the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ * 

should shine unto them. — 2 Cor. 4:3,4. 

Prejudice 20. But when the Pharisees heard it, they 

against the said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but 

messenger, by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. — Matt. 

12:24. 

And they were offended in him. But Jesus 
said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, 
save in his own country, and in his own home. — 
Matt. 13:5-7. 

And Nathaniel said unto him, can there any 
good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith , 
unto him. Come and see. — J no. 1:46. 

And they said. Is not this Jesus, the son of 
Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how 
is it then that he saith, I came down from 
heaven? — J no. 6:42. 
Accept They answered and said unto him. Art thou 

trutli, no also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of 
matter who Galilee ariseth to prophet. — Jno. 7:52. 
brings it. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for 

this fellow, we know not from whence he is. — 
Jno. 9:29. 
Restitution. 21. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, 
and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen, 
for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. — Ex. 22:1^ 
Behold, here I am: witness against me before- 
th© Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox^^ 
have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or- 
whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? 
or of whose hand have I received any bribe to 
blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it 
you. — 1 Sam. 12:3. 
Must And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord,' 

"make Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the 

good" poor; and if I have taken anything from any 

If able. man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. — 

Lu. 19:8. 
Controver- 22. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel 

23 



370 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

sial spirit, how they might entangle him in his talk. And 
they sent out unto him their disciples with the 
Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou 
art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, 
neither carest thou for any man: for thou regard- 
est not the person of men. Tell us therefore, 
What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute 
unto Caesar, or not? — Matt. 22:15-17. 
Real The same day came to him the Sadducees, 

which say that there is no resurrection, and asked 
him,— Matt. 22:23. 
disciples But when the Pharisees had heard that he 

question, had put the Sadducees to silence, they were 
and listen gathered together. Then one of them, which was 
to learn. a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, 
and saying. Master, which is the great command- 
ment in the law?— Matt. 22:34-36. 
Murmuring 23. Then he which had received the one tal- 
spirit. ent came and said. Lord, I knew thee that thou 

art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not 
sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewn: 
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent 
in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is thine. — 
Matt. 25:24,25. 
Fault- Yet ye say. The way of the Lord is not 

finding. equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my 
way equal? are not your ways unequal? — Ezek. 
18:25. 
Secret sins. 24. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord 
will not hear me. — Ps. 66:18. 

The Lord is far from the wicked: but he hear- 
eth the prayer of the righteous. — Prov. 15:29. 

For God shall bring every work into judg- 
ment, with every secret thing, whether it be 
good, or whether it be evil. — Eccl. 12:14. 
"Be sure And this is the condemnation, that light is 

your sin come into the world, and men loved darkness 
will find rather than light, because their deeds were evil, 
you out." For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, 
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 



371 



Unfaithful 
to light 
received. 



Increase 
by use. 



be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to 
the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, 
that they are wrought in God. — Jno. 3:19-21. 

25. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little 
while is the light with you. Walk while ye have 
the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he 
that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he 
goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the 
light, that ye may be the children of light. — 
Jno. 12:35,36. 

For unto every one that hath shall be given, 
and he shall have abundance: but from him that 
hath not shall be taken away even that which 
he hath.— Matt. 25:29. 



"Choose I must, and soon must choose 
Holiness, or heaven lose. 
While what heaven loves I hate, 
Shut for me is heaven's gate. 

Light received, increaseth light; 
Light rejected, bringeth night. 
Who shall give me power to choose. 
If the love of light I lose?" 



372 THE BIBLE COMPANION 



NDEX. 



For convenience in the study of the various subjects 

presented in the foregoing pages the following, reference 

index is arranged. The figures refer to the number of the 

study. 

Aaron, helping Moses, 91. 

Achan, causing Israel's first defeat, 97. 

Adam and Eve, our first parents and their fall, 10, 22, 25, 96; 
excuses, see "twenty-five excuses." 

Adoption, God's work, done but once and never half done, 42. 

Amaiek, first foe of God's people, 91. 

Anger, God's; not like man's, 17. 

Anti-Christ, destroyed at Christ's Coming, 53. 

Apostasy, impossible of true believers, 42 

Armor, ancient and modern, 91. 

Armor-bearer, a loyal one, 92. 

Assurance, an evidence of regeneration, 32, comfort of, 42. 

Assyrians, slain, 98. 

Amusements, craze for, right and wrong, 45; hinders, 46; 
leads to backsliding, 65. 

Atonement, God's plan, 20; substitution, 23; The Blood, 24. 

Backsliding, not apostasy, 42; twelve steps in, 65; restored, 68. 

Baptism, church ordinance, 47; mode of, 48; a duty, 64. 

Battle, Gideon's, 77; first one, 91; the Lord's work, 98. 

Beatitudes, study on, 82. 

Believe, how related to repentance and faith, 26, 29; brings 
peace, 33; Introduction. 

Bible, Infallible, seven points concerning, 1; brings assur- 
ance, 42; means of growth, 44; Introduction. 

Blasphemy, against the Holy Ghost, 18; feared, 65. 

Blind, spiritually, work of sin and Satan, 66. 

Blood, of Christ our only hope, 24. 

Bondage, spiritual of God's people and their deliverance, 68, 
91, 99. 

Burdens, bear one another's, 99. 

Children, salvation of, 40; obey parents, 64. 

Choice, man's power of, 20, 21; success or defeat, 93. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 373 

Christ, divine, 2, 4; human, 2; Son, 3; our substitute, 23; 
blood of, 24; second coming, 53; our example, 64; prayer, 
70; in Gethsemane, 71; Confessing, 27, 19. 

Christian, defined, 60; armor, 61; strong or weak, 75. 

Church, origin, organization, officers, ordinances, office, 47, 
48; a seven-fold successful church, and ten reasons for 
joining, 99; distinguished from kingdom, 50. 

Cleansing, only in the blood of Jesus, 24. 

Comforter, the Holy Spirit in saving and sanctifying, 7, 19. 

Commandments, see law. 

Communion, see Lord's supper. 

Compassion, Christ's, 36, 49, 83. 

Condemnation, result of sin, 15. 

Confession, of sin and a Savior, 19, 26, 27; for peace, 33, 27. 

Conscience, too weak, no absolute guide, awake too late, 33, 
41, 54, 66. 

Consecration, Defined, 43; illustrated, 77; seven point ex- 
ample, 85. 

Constantine, did not change Sabbath, 51. 

Contrition, second part of repentance, 26. 

Conversion, fourth and last part of repentance, 26. 

Conviction, first part of repentance, 26. 

Covenant, renewing it, 69. 

Covetousness, leads to defeat, 97. 

Creator, see introduction. 

Cross, of Christ, 23, 24, 70, 71; our, 64, 79. 

Crown, flowers, thorns, glory, 46. 

Curse, for disobedience, sin, 58; defeat, 96. 

David, confessing sin, 27. 

Deacons, church officers, 47. 

Death, natural and spiritual, 15. 

Deborah, success through prayer, 94. 

Debt, of sin, pay ourselves or let Christ pay, 16, 23, 31. 

Defeat, conditions of, 96, 97. 

Depravity, meaning and extent- of, 13, 30, 31. 

Desire, for heaven, 55; prayer, 63; condition of success, 93. 

Devil, personality and -^^v^ork, 22, 43; human representatives, 90. 

Difficulties, spiritual not greater than physical, 4, 5. 

Disobedience, brings defeat, 96. 

Divorce, study on, 101. 



374 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Doubt, reason for, 32. 

Drink, Bible not justify intoxicating, 59. 

Ebenezer, memorial of a great event, 69. 

Election, God's soverignty in, 21. 

Elisha, Old Testament miracle worker, -87. 

Enemies, forgiving, 34; fighting against, 90, 91. 

Evil, see introduction. 

Example, Christ our, 46, 64, 71, 84, a human, 85. 

Faith, relation to repentance, 26; defined and justifies, 29; 
preserves, 42; keep us going, 46; lesson, 78; needed for 
service, 85; healed by, 89; wins victories, 92; brings 
success, 94. 

Faith-cure, error and truth of, 67. 

Fall, of man, through sin, 13. 

Father, first person of the Trinity, creating, upholding, adopt- 
ing, 3; gives the Sabbath, 51. 

Following, "in his steps," 46. 

Foreknowledge, foundation of prayer, prophecy, predestina- 
tion, 21. 

Forgiving, necessary for peace, 33; for prayer, 34. 

Forgiveness, see pardon. 

Free-will, and sovereignty harmonized, 20, 21. 

Fruit, of Spirit, pleasing God, evidence of regeneration, 32, 
74, 81, 80. 

Gain, in giving up, 45, 46; seven-fold gain, 62 

Gehazi, punished for covetousness, 97. 

Giving, in general and tithing, 56, 57, 58; a Christian duty, 64. 

Gideon, wins a great victory, 77. 

God, triune, the Father, 3; just and merciful, 17; sovereign, 
21; preserving, 42; owns all things, 56. 

Good, God is, introduction; promises of, 93. 

Grace, growing in, 44; depends on giving, 57. 

Guide, Bible and Holy Spirit, 1, 7. 

Happy, Jesus tells who are, 82. 

Heart, meaning and change of, 30. 

Heathen, condition, need, hope, our duty towards, 37, 38. 

Heaven, here and hereafter, 55; love in. the soul makes, 35, 80. 

Hell, end of sin, 15, 54; no love there, 35. 

Hezekiah, his great prayer, 98. 

Holiness, necessity, character, how obtained, 31, 41. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 375 

Holy Spirit, God, 3; relation to word, 5; destinct personality, 
6; ten works of, 7; active in salvation, 19; fruits of, 32; 
led by, 32, 76; baptism of, 74; filled with, 75; ask for, 73; 
and sabbatb, 51. 

Humility, one step in following Jesus, 46. 

Hur, belps Moses, 91. 

Idolatry, ancient and modern, 69, 94; brings defeat, 97. 

Immortality, see introduction. 

Imputation, of Christ's righteousness our only hope, 23, 31. 

Infidelity, its author, 22; unreasonable, 67; its end, 54. 

Inheritance, our heavenly, 55. 

Inspiration, all Scripture, 1. 

Invitations, full, free and can be accepted, 20, 28, 36. 

Job, example in affliction, 29. 

Joy, Jesus tells how we may have it, 81. 

Joshua, successor of Moses, 94. 

Judgment, just and certain, 17, 66. 

Judah and Israel, punished for their idolatry, 97. 

Justice, cuts off all hope out of Christ, 17, 25. 

Justification, God's way of through faith in the blood, 24, 39, 42. 

Kadesh Barnea, testing place of souls, 96. 

Kingdom, the spiritual, 50, 

Law, importance of, 8; rewards, 9; defined, 10; in New Tes- 
tament, 11; obeyed, 12; transgression of, sin, 13; viola- 
tion punished, 16; Christ's law for his church, 47. 

Life, eternal, 42, diagram. 

Lord's Supper, a church ordinance, 47, 49. 

Loss, by not giving up, 45, 46; seven points of, 62. 

Love, Evidence of regeneration, 32; defined, 35; God's great, 
28, 36; leads us to follow, 46; a chapter of, 79; a lesson 
on, 80; finding the way, 85. 

Mammon, the money-god, 97. 

Man, in sin, condemned, lost, helpless, 13, 14, 15, 16; account- 
able, 20, 21; destitute of divine love, 80. 

Marriage, study on, 101. 

Me.-cy, God's great, 17, 36; how obtain? 82. 

Meroz, cursed for doing nothing, 100. 

Miracle, a seal, 2; the greatest, 52; provided for, 67; a great 

one, 83; increase of oil, 87. 
Missions, our great business, 38, 37; money for, 58. 



376 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Money, too great love of, 45, 46; using for God, 57, 58. 

Morality, good, but not good enough, 31, 60; awful fate of 
the moralist, 54. 

Moses, a great man winning a great victory, 91; a faithful 
leader, 94. 

Mourning, Christ's agony, 71; in Zion, 82. 

Mystery, trinity, divinity, Holy Spirit, new birth, 3, 4, 5, 31. 

Need, of lost and helpless world, 85, 89. 

Neliemiah, the great worker, 90. 

Obedience, enjoined, 8; rewards, 9; need of, 10; in New Tes- 
tament, 11, 12; failure of, 13; brings peace, 33; must be 
perfect, 41; our example, 46; in the church, 47; impossible, 
83; how, then? 89; brings success, 95. 

Opportunity, seeing and seizing, 85, 89. 

Ordinances, Baptism and Lord's supper, 47, 48, 49; not in 
kingdom, 50. 

Ownership, God's, 56. 

Pardon, condition and ground of, 27, 39, 42. 

Pastor, a church officer, 47. 

Paul, healing lame man at Lystra, 89. 

Peace, how made? 24; seven steps to, 33; blessed, 82. 

Perseverence, of saints, 42, 43. 

Peter, healing lame man at Beautiful Gate, 89. 

Pharisee, proud prayer unavailing, 72; "woes" for, 100. 

Pharoah, brings destruction upon himself, 21. 

Pleasures, may cost too much, 45. 

Poor, temporal, spiritual; poor rich, rich poor," 56, 57, 58. 

Praise, "Fountain of," 35. 

Prayer, place in salvation, 19; evidence of conversion, 32; 
means of growth, 44; armor, 61; Lesson on, 63; duty, 64; 
the Lord's, 70; in the garden, 71; example of, 72; for 
God, 73; of heart, 85; brings success, 94, 95; a great 
one, 98. 

Preaching, part of God's plan, 28, 36, 64. 

Predestination, result of foreknowledge, 21. 

Promise, of evil, 15; Christ's coming, 53; of reviving, 68; of 
salvation, 39. 

Prophecy, a seal, 2; provided for, 21, 52. 

Publican, humble prayer heard, 72. 

Punishment, of sin, 16; eternal, 54. 



THE BIBLE COMPANION 377 

Purity, like Christ, 46; best beatitude, 82. 

Rabshakah, boasting representative of Satan, 98. 

Ransom, tried and true theory, 23. 

Redemption, through the blood of Christ, 24. 

Reformation, not enough, 31. 

Regeneration, a fundamental step, 19; follows repentance and 

faith, 26; study on, 31; evidences of, 32; God's work, 

done once and only once,42. 
Repentance, place in plan of salvation, 19; study on, 26.; a 

step to peace, 33; true, leads to life, 42; brings success, 93. 
Reprobation, man's own choice, 21. 
Restitution, a step to peace, 33. 
Resurrection, a seal, 2; study on, 52. 
Reviving, study on, 68; prayer lead to, 70. 
Reward, for obedience, 9, 12; for Christian work, 64, 84, 88. 
Rich, the money-mama, 45; the right way to be, 57. 
Sabbath, study on, 51. 

Sacrifice, necessary in worship, 69; and in service, 85. 
Salvation, way of, 19; children and, 40. 
Samuel, reproves Saul, 96. 

Sanctification, study on, 41; its place, 42; our part of, 43. 
Satan, study on, 22; teaching universalism, 25. 
Saul, disobedience and death of, 96. 
Savior, seven-sealed, 2; our substitute, 23. 
Self-denial, our great Example of, 46; mark of a Christian, 60; 

a duty, 64. 
Sevens, seals, 2; steps, 33; armor, 61; losses, gains, 62. 

faith points, 78; soul winning elements, 85; working 

points, 90; successful church, 99. 
Signs, of Christ's coming, 53; of revival needed, 68. 
Sin, man in, 13; bondage of, 87; fruits of, 14; penalty of, 15; 

eternal punishment of, 16; Confessing, 19, 27; un- 
pardonable, 18; cleansed from, 24; of backsliding, 65; 

study on, 66; forgiveness of 24, 39. 
Soldier, a Christian, 60; armor and weapons of, 61. 
Solomon, loss from idolatry, 97. 
Son, God, 3; divine, 4; Redeemer, Sacrifice, Substitute, 3, 

23, 24; gives new Sabbath, 51. 
Soul, defined, 30; value of, 86. 
Spiritualism, of Satan, 67. 



378 THE BIBLE COMPANION 

Sprinkling, not baptism, 48. 

Stewardsiilp, ownership, 56; stewardship, 57; tithing, 58. 

Substitution, foundation of atonement, 23; God's plan, be- 
lieve it, 31; love leads to, 79. 

Success, conditions of, 93, 94, 95. 

Surety, Jesus became our, 41. 

Surrender, heart of "the way,'* 19. 

Tears, God weeping over a world, 36; will his or ours be in 
vain? 88. 

Temperance, study on, 59. 

Temptation, the first, 13; of sinners and Christians, 43. 

Titliing, clear teaching of the Word, 58; giving less is idolatry, 
97. 

Trust, in the darkness, 46. 

Truth, the Word of God, 1. 

Unbelief, is sin, 78; hinders God, 84; brings defeat, 96. 

Union, strength and safety in, 99. 

Universalism, against the Word, 15, 16, 54; study on, 25. 

Vine, branches, fruit, five-linked golden chain, 81. 

Warfare, literal and spiritual, armor and weapons, 61, 91, 92. 

Watch, for Christ's coming, 53. 

Way, of salvation, 19, 

Wicl<ed, not know peace, 33. 

Witch of En-dor, deceiving and deceived, 96. 

Witnesses, of Christ's resurrection, many, 52. 

Woes, study on, 100. 

Word, Spirit always leads according to, 76. 

Work, evidence of conversion, 32; studies on, 64, 84; how to, 
85; soul-winning the greatest, 86; with faith, 87; "Will 
it pay?" 88; a great worker, 90; power for, 75. 

Wrath, God's explained; not like man's, yet to be feared, 17. 



DEC 31 1312 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper proce 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: May 2005 

PreservationTechnologie 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATH 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township. PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 



i3 ' 

r" 



